IIG opens new Swan Hill solar farm

The Swan Hill Mayor Les McPhee has officially opened a new solar farm just outside Swan Hill.

The 19MW solar farm funded and owned by Impact Investment Group's (IIG) second solar fund is expected to provide clean electricity for the equivalent of approximately 6,050 Australian homes, and have a 30-year life span. 

The project was estimated to have cost $36 million in total.

Impact Investment Group's Head of Renewable Energy Infrastructure said: "We're extremely proud of the Swan Hill solar farm, its contribution to the local economy, and Australia's clean energy system, this solar farm will save approximately 155 million litres of water each year.

"As Australia moves away from its old, polluting coal fired power plants, it will need new electricity generators and that transition could mean dozens of projects like this one; we'd love to see a new boom of solar jobs, not just in Victoria, but across the country."

Swan Hill Rural City Council Mayor Les McPhee said this was an important renewable power generation facility for the region.

Victorian Renewable Energy Advocate, Simon Corbell said: "Swan Hill solar farm is directly contributing to the growth of large scale renewable energy in Victoria and will contribute to towards achieving the Victorian Renewable Energy Target of 40% renewable energy by 2025.

"With the Australian Energy Market Operator having confirmed on Tuesday that Victoria is capturing the largest share of renewable energy growth of any jurisdiction, at 38%, we can expect many more projects like Swan Hill solar farm into the future."

IIG have stated: "This is an opportunity for wholesale investors to co-invest with IIG in an unlisted portfolio of up to $180m in Australian solar infrastructure assets, with exposure to the electricity spot market."

The folio was opened in June 2018, and attracted $55 million in its first round of investor commitments.

It remains open for second-round investors.