Shell picks Australia’s Queensland for first large-scale solar play

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Royal Dutch Shell sign outside forecourt of service station. Image credit: Shell International

Royal Dutch Shell has set its sights on Australia as the home for what it says is its first ever utility-scale solar plant, a project it will use to power its nearby natural gas operations.

On Friday, the oil and gas major said it will build and run a 120MW solar plant near the town of Wandoan, a six-hour drive northwest of Queensland capital Brisbane.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Construction of the 400,000-panel installation has already kicked off at a site on land owned by the Iman, an Aboriginal people native to areas part today of central Queensland.

Project ‘Gangarri’ – the Iman word for ‘sunlight’ – could bring 200 new jobs during construction and is meant to reach completion early next year, Shell Australia explained in a prepared statement.

The choice of Queensland stems not only from its solid PV resource – the state boasts “some of the most reliable sunshine” in the world, Shell said – but also the fact it hosts some of Shell’s existing gas projects.

As the firm's statement explained, the project is “also located adjacent to existing power infrastructure and inside the footprint of Shell’s QGC onshore natural gas project that stretches across Queensland’s Western Downs region”.

Utility-scale solar debut after raft of M&A moves

Once operational, the 120MW plant will supply PV electricity to Shell’s own energy trading unit Shell Energy Australia, under a power purchase agreement whose terms have not been made public.

Shell’s plan is for the PV power to then be sold to its QGC unit, previously known as Queensland Gas Company and bought by Shell as part of its broader takeover of the BG Group in early 2016.

The PV electricity from Gangarri will be, Shell said, “topped up” with other generation sources to ensure QGC receives “consistent and reliable” electricity.

Shell’s decision to deploy its global utility-scale solar debut in Australia follows the firm’s efforts, over the past year, to build a foothold via a flurry of M&A moves.

The oil and gas player – which counts Australia among its “core” emerging market targets – bought stakes in local supplier ERM Power and PV developer ESCO Pacific in the space of a few weeks last December.

Shell’s new solar foray finds Australia at a tumultuous time, with analysts predicting a buoyant year for both large- and small-scale solar even as bushfires and weather hazards pile pressure on project operation and maintenance.

21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.

Read Next

September 5, 2025
Scientists from Germany and Saudi Arabia have discovered that perovskite thin-film cells are compatible with current industry standard silicon solar cells, which they claim is a “crucial step toward the industrialisation of perovskite silicon tandem solar cells”.
September 5, 2025
During a week of major US clean energy developments, ContourGlobal, PSE, Arevon, and Ameren Missouri advanced solar projects across four states in the US.
September 5, 2025
Newly formed firm Solaris Assets has acquired the business operations and assets of Texas-based residential solar installer Sunnova.
September 5, 2025
Research firm Rystad Energy has found that Queensland’s utility-scale solar PV power plants have dominated the best-performing assets, in terms of AC capacity factor, rankings for August 2025.
September 4, 2025
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, the joint forum of the Centre and States, has reduced the GST rate on renewable energy components from 12% to 5%. 
September 4, 2025
The Czech national cybersecurity agency has warned that Chinese solar inverters represent a threat to the country’s data security.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines