First Solar to supply 140MW of modules to Australia’s largest solar plant

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
First Solar modules are ideal for the Australian climate due to their lower temperature coefficient, linear shading and spectral response. Source: First Solar

Thin-film producer First Solar has been awarded the module supply contract for Australia’s largest solar plant.

The 140MW PV facility will be located in North Queensland, utilising more than 1,167,000 Frist Solar advanced thin-film modules. It will also produce a mammoth 270,000MWh of clean energy in its first year alone. The project will supply electricity to the zinc refinery of its developer, Sun Metals.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

RCR Tomlinson will assume EPC responsibilities for the project, with construction scheduled to begin in April this year.

“Large-scale solar is fast becoming one of the most cost-effective sources of energy generation in Australia. This project represents the viability of the commercial and industrial solar market in Australia, and the growing trend of major energy consumers owning and operating renewable energy assets,” said Jack Curtis, First Solar’s regional manager for Asia Pacific.

First Solar has a significant market foothold in Australia, being the country’s leading module supplier for large-scale solar projects.

“The performance and reliability advantages inherent to First Solar’s technology in Australia are well known, and we’re pleased to support this historic project,” added Curtis.

First Solar modules are ideal for the Australian climate due to their lower temperature coefficient, linear shading and spectral response, claimed the firm. These features work particularly well in humid climates like those found in Townsville, where the plant will be located. Overall, First Solar technology in this case will ensure a higher energy output over the operational life of the project, according to the company. 

In other large-scale news, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) announced this week that it has signed a power purchase agreement with Ergon Energy — the Queensland Government-owned electricity retailer — for the proposed 100MW (125MW DC) Lilyvale Solar Farm project.

7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

July 17, 2025
Corporate funding in the solar sector fell by 39% in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period last year.
July 17, 2025
Swedish solar developer OX2 has submitted plans for a 150MW solar-plus-storage project in Queensland to Australia’s EPBC Act.
July 17, 2025
Pilecom, a mechanical installer of utility-scale solar projects, has officially started work on European Energy’s 106MW Lancaster solar PV power plant in Victoria, Australia.
July 16, 2025
Supply-demand imbalances and inventory pressures have driven down prices and negatively impacted the operational performance of several listed Chinese PV companies that released their 2025 interim forecasts this week.
July 16, 2025
Planning uncertainty and policy instability regarding renewables in Queensland have seen it slip in investment attractiveness, with New South Wales now leading Australia.
July 16, 2025
The New South Wales government has announced AU$26.2 million in funding for several Australian solar PV and battery initiatives.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK