Beryl is located approximately 5km west of Gulgong, New South Wales, in one of the three priority renewable energy zones identified by the NSW Government. On full commercial operation, the plant will sell approximately 134,000 MWh of electricity per annum to Transport for NSW (TfNSW) under a 15-year power purchase agreement to meet the electricity requirements of the Sydney Metro Northwest railway. The TfNSW PPA represents approximately 69 percent of Beryl’s generation during the 15 year term.
Total construction cost is expected to be approximately $187 million (US$138 million). New Energy's acquisition price is confidential.
John Martin, CEO of New Energy Solar, said, “Beryl, NEW’s second investment in Australia, will further enhance the scale and contracted cashflows of our Australian portfolio. The 15-year PPA term, longer than PPAs currently offered in the Australian market, diversifies our contract tenor profile and underpins investor returns.”
New Energy Solar’s Head of Investments, Liam Thomas said, “Beryl is an ideal project for our second Australian acquisition, and we are very pleased to have added a project of this scale and quality so soon after Manildra. Once completed, approximately 20 percent of New Energy Solar’s portfolio will be in Australia.”
Downer Utilities Australia Pty Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Downer EDI Limited, began construction of the plant in May this year using First Solar’s latest Series 6 modules. Beryl is expected to generate more than 199,000 MWh of electricity in the first operating year, powering approximately 25,000 average NSW homes.
First Solar Energy Services will provide construction management services and, once completed, operations, maintenance and asset management services to the project.
