Aldoga Solar Farm: Supporting Australian made

The Aldoga Solar Farm is a solar farm project by Spanish renewable energy developer ACCIONA Energía, located north-west of Gladstone, Queensland. 

ACCIONA Energía has been operating in Australia for the past 20 years. They have since become a significant industry participant, focusing exclusively on renewable technologies, primarily wind and solar. 

Driving a sustainable future for Central Queensland 

The Aldoga Solar Farm is one of the company’s many renewable energy projects in Australia. The farm is expected to prevent nearly one million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement (Queensland) Lead at ACCIONA Energía Renee Mooney said the Aldoga Solar Farm is an exciting renewable energy project for the Gladstone area and will produce enough renewable energy to power 185,000 households in the area.

‘It is a solar farm which has 820,000 panels and it will supply 387MW back into the energy grid, which is equivalent to 185,000 homes, (which is) approximately three times the size of the Gladstone population,’ she said. 

Project Director at ACCIONA Energía Hesham Shehata said solar projects like this show how renewables can diversify the energy mix in regions built on traditional power generation. 

‘The Aldoga Solar Farm is very important within the Gladstone community because it shows that renewables and solar industry can actually contribute towards the energy mix in a very traditional power generation area.’ 

Supporting Australian-made

The Aldoga Solar Farm demonstrates how renewable energy projects can support Australian manufacturing and reduce emissions. 

It is the first project of its kind in Queensland to incorporate Australian-made steel. ACCIONA has partnered with global solar equipment provider Nextracker to use tubing for solar panel mounts made from Australian steel at the Orrcon Steel facility in Brisbane.

‘The use of Australian steel on a project of this size is very important because it gives us a glimpse into the future of how Australian steel can contribute towards a solar farm of this size,’ Hesham said. 

Creating a local positive impact

Aldoga Solar Farm Site Manager Tim Wight said he’s proud to be involved in the solar project and make a positive impact locally.

‘It’s great for the area. I’m very proud to be part of this project and my family is too. Especially because Gladstone is such a heavy industrial area. To have this renewable project and creating 14 long term jobs for the next 30 years…is a great feeling,’ he said.

Passionate about solar, Tim hopes Queensland can lead the renewable energy revolution. 

‘My passion has always been solar because I believe it’s the future. I hope that Queensland can be the forefront of leading the charge of these large-scale renewable energy projects,’ he said. 

Find out how the Authority is supporting the Central Queensland community transition to a net zero economy at our Central Queensland region page.