Renewables designer Enel Green Power Australia has actually validated that its 27 MW Cohuna Solar Farm in the Australian state of Victoria has actually resumed partial operations after being required to close down following a grassfire at the website in November. December 28, 2023 David Carroll From pv publication Australia Victoria government-owned firm Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) had actually directed Enel Green Power to stop creating power at the Cohuna Solar Farm after preliminary examinations into the fire raised issues about particular devices utilized at the solar farm. ESV, the technical regulator accountable for the safe generation, supply and usage of electrical energy, gas and pipelines in Victoria, stated the operator of the solar farm was on Dec. 8 directed to detach devices, following a 3-hectare to 4-hectare grassfire at the 82-hectare website in November. Enel informed pv publication that ESV had actually directed it to detach some devices at the website however the plant has actually considering that resumed operations. “Following operate in accordance with instructions offered by ESV, the Cohuna Solar Farm recommenced creating on Dec. 17,” Enel stated. “The plant is now running at roughly 75% capability and is presently increase generation to complete capability.” Enel stated it is working carefully with ESV to adhere to all appropriate instructions. Popular contentESV Chief Executive Officer Leanne Hughson stated early examinations into the fire had actually triggered issues about particular devices utilized at the solar farm situated near Horfield, about 250 kilometers northwest of the state capital, Melbourne. The plant makes up about 87,000 bifacial modules installed on single-axis trackers. “The operation of modern-day solar farms is usually safe however on the unusual event we see a fault with particular devices we will examine,” she stated. The ESV stated the operator was needed to performed evaluations and carry out interim precaution prior to the solar plant, which has actually functioned considering that 2021, being powered up once again. The company stated the operator is working to discover an irreversible option to assist make sure the problem does not occur once again, while likewise working carefully with the ESV to abide by the existing instructions. The news comes simply days after Enel Green Power, owned by Italy’s Enel Group and Japanese oil and gas significant Inpex, signed a long-lasting offtake contract with the Japanese owned seller SmartestEnergy for its 93 MW Girgarre solar task in Victoria. Enel Green Power likewise has a stake in the Bungala 1 and Bungala 2 solar farms, which provide a combined 220 MW of generation capability into the grid in South Australia and is developing the 75.6 MW Flat Rocks Wind Farm in Western Australia. This material is safeguarded by copyright and might not be recycled. If you wish to work together with us and wish to recycle a few of our material, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
Cohuna solar plant resumes operations after Energy Safe shutdown
