en.Wedoany.com Reported - Swedish developer OX2 announced that the solar and battery energy storage project located at a former coal mine site in the Hunter region of New South Wales has reached financial close, with construction commencing immediately. This is OX2's first self-developed project in Australia, marking the company's official entry into the local independent power producer sector.
The project includes a 135 MW solar farm and a 100 MW battery system with two hours of storage duration. Last month, Amazon signed a power purchase agreement with OX2 to offtake 94.5 MW of the solar capacity and 70 MW of the battery capacity. This agreement covers nine Australian renewable energy projects, totaling 430 MW and valued at AUD 2.8 billion.
The project is adjacent to the Muswellbrook Coal Mine, which ceased operations in 2022, with the land held by the mine operator and project co-developer, Idemitsu Australia. The two companies stated that Idemitsu will continue as the long-term landowner of the site, driving the transformation from the Hunter Valley's oldest open-cut coal mine into a renewable energy hub, with the potential inclusion of green hydrogen projects in the future.
The New South Wales Independent Planning Commission approved the project about a year ago, after it was required to be reassessed due to receiving over 50 public objections. The submission report indicated that the majority of objections did not come from local residents, with approximately 60% originating from areas more than 100 kilometers away from the proposed site, including six submissions from Queensland. The Commission determined the project was in the public interest and aligned with the state's renewable energy and emissions reduction targets, attaching conditions including a road safety audit, waste and biodiversity management plans, and an accommodation and employment strategy.
OX2 has committed to delivering long-term, substantial benefits to the local community through employment, economic development, and skills training, and will contribute approximately AUD 115,000 annually to a community benefit sharing scheme under a voluntary planning agreement with the Muswellbrook Shire Council. Project construction is being undertaken by an EPC joint venture formed by Bouygues Construction Australia and Equans Solar and Storage Australia.
OX2 CEO Matthias Taft stated on LinkedIn: "I am proud of the work we have done to make this project a reality and of our contribution to strengthening New South Wales' energy supply. This investment underscores our long-term commitment to Australia." OX2 Australia Vice President Stephen Symons added: "We are incredibly proud to achieve financial close on the Muswellbrook project, delivering a project that showcases the renewable energy opportunities in Australia."
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