Launched in 2020, Darlington Point Solar Farm in New South Wales Riverina Region is Australia’s largest single solar power station.
With nearly 1million solar panels, Darlington Point Solar Farm provides clean green energy to more than 115,000 homes. This saves over 411,000 tonnes of carbon emissions – or the equivalent of 420,000 barrels of oil each year.
Construction of the 275MW solar PV project commenced in 2019. All Energy Contracting (AEC) was brought on halfway through underground electrical works to accelerate schedules. AEC completed trenching and backfilling, DC cabling, above ground harnessing and cable termination & testing in five months. AEC even sponsored the local rugby team, the Darlington Point Coleambally Roosters.
Strong collaboration on a strategy to expediate development with Signal Energy, AEC’s specialist equipment and experience on major solar projects saw the project completed in line with deadlines, April 2020.
Today, almost 1million 1,500V high-efficiency solar panels measuring 2.10m x 1.05m in size are following the movement of the sun, mounted on single-axis tracking systems. At maximum tilt, the solar modules have a maximum ground clearance of 3m and minimum of 500mm.
The electricity generated by the solar farm is transmitted via 33kV underground cable to Darlington Point Solar Farm’s switchyard, where it’s stepped up to 132kV and connected to TransGrid’s nearby 330kV Darlington Point substation at Donald Ross Drive.