Wedoany.com Report-Dec.23, European Energy has obtained planning approval for the Upper Calliope solar farm, a 1.1 GW project situated near Gladstone in Queensland, Australia.

Electricity from the Upper Calliope solar farm is planned to power Rio Tinto's Queensland operations.

This approval reduces development uncertainties and advances the initiative toward investment readiness. The full electricity output from the solar farm is secured under a 25-year power purchase agreement with Rio Tinto, ensuring stable long-term revenue and strengthening the project's financial structure.

With the permit granted, European Energy can now focus on detailed design, grid connection preparations, procurement processes, final investment decision, and construction scheduling.

The facility is positioned as a large-scale solar asset in an established industrial energy area, benefiting from proximity to existing transmission infrastructure and demand centers.

Catriona McLeod, Vice President and Country Manager of European Energy Australia, said: "With planning approval now in place, we can move ahead with the Upper Calliope project – one of the largest projects European Energy has undertaken to date. It’s an exciting and important step and our experienced team will now move on to the next phase of development."

The generated electricity will supply Rio Tinto's operations in Queensland, particularly its aluminium smelters and alumina refineries in the Gladstone region.

Thorvald Spanggaard, Executive Vice President and Head of Project Development at European Energy, said: "Securing planning approval materially advances the Upper Calliope project and reduces execution risk.

"Together with the long-term contracted offtake, the project now represents a permitted, utility-scale solar asset with defined revenue characteristics – one of the largest of its kind."

European Energy continues to develop renewable energy initiatives in Australia and internationally. The company is also evaluating potential ownership structures and collaborative opportunities for the project.

This milestone supports the expansion of clean energy capacity in a key industrial zone, contributing to reliable power supply for major operations.