The Goorambat East Solar Farm is an under construction solar photovoltaic (PV) renewable energy development in Victoria, Australia. ENGIE, a French electric utility company, is the 100% owner of the solar farm.
The company reached the financial close for the Goorambat East Solar Farm project in August 2024.
Recommended White Papers
In October 2024, the construction of the solar farm began with a groundbreaking ceremony. It is expected to be completed in 2026.
During the construction phase, the project will create approximately 250 new jobs.
The project is expected to start producing renewable power in 2027.
Once operational, the solar farm will generate enough power for up to 105,000 Victorian homes on average. Goorambat East Solar will also displace up to 558,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
Goorambat East Solar Farm Location
The Goorambat East Solar Farm is being developed about 12km north of the rural city of Benalla and south of the township of Goorambat on the land of the Yorta Yorta people.
The site lies approximately 215km to the northeast of the Melbourne Central Business District.
Overall, the site covers approximately 630 hectares (ha) of area spanning five rural properties in Benalla Rural City Council local government area.
It can be accessed via the Goorambat-Chesney Road, Spinks Lane and Saunders Road. The Benalla to Oaklands railway line runs in a southeast to northwest direction through the site, heading toward Goorambat Township.
Background
Renewable energy producer Neoen submitted a planning permit for the solar project in 2019 to the Benalla Rural City Council. Feasibility studies also confirmed the financial viability of the the Goorambat region east of Broken Creek for a solar farm development.
In December 2019, the council approved the planning permit for the solar PV array and connection assets.
In 2023, ENGIE acquired the project by signing a commercial agreement with Neoen.
In August 2024, Deutsche Bank closed A$348m ($220.87m) debt and bank guarantee facility for the project. The bank acted as Initial Financer, Bank Guarantee Facility Provider, and Hedge Provider on this transaction.
Goorambat East Solar Farm Details
The Gooram East Solar Farm will consist of up to 500,000 bifacial solar panels mounted on single axis tracking mounting frames.
The modules will be between 2m and 4m wide, with each module row separated by between 5.5m and 13m distance.
Bifacial panels enable the module to collect light from the front as well as from the rear side by capturing sunlight reflected from the surface under the solar tracker. The trackers will be 4m maximum in height.
The panels will be accompanied by up to 120 inverters.
Power Transmission
The Goorambat East Solar Farm will be connected to Victoria’s electricity transmission network through a new terminal substation, which will connect to the existing 220kV Shepparton to Dederang line.
The terminal station will have a maximum area of 5,000 square metres. It will house key elements such as 220/33kV transformer with up to a maximum height of 7m; towers and poles with up to a maximum height of 45m; a 220kV switchyard including three bays; lightening protection rods with up to a maximum height of 40m, and busbars and gentry beams with up to a maximum height of 7m.
Cables from the PV modules will converge at the terminal substation, from where it will be connected to the existing 220kV overhead transmission line that crosses the area.
The underground cables will be composed of copper or aluminium.
Goorambat East Solar Farm Contractors
ENGIE has selected Bouygues Construction Australia, and Equans Solar and Storage Australia for the engineering, procurement, and construction, operation, and maintenance of the Gorrambat East Solar Farm.
King and Wood Mallesons (KWM), a commercial law firm, advised ENGIE in reaching financial close on the solar farm. Allens acted as the financial advisor of the project.
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright advised ENGIE on the procurement of Goorambat East Solar Farm. It advised on all aspects of the procurement documentation for the project which includes drafting and negotiating the early works agreement, EPC Contract, O&M Agreement and other ancillary documents.
AusNet will be responsible for the electricity transmission infrastructure of the solar farm. Elecnor was engaged by AusNet to build the facility and work as a principal contractor for the project.
