Clean energy for 54,000 Australian homes with Downer

Panalpina has been increasing its participation in the renewable energy sector by investing significant efforts and resources in the industry through its Energy and Project Solutions. As mentioned in its most recent article on renewable energy in Australia, the company is currently showcasing a series of valuable ongoing projects that will help reshape Australia’s energy future.

Today’s turn is for leading integrated services company Downer, which awarded Panalpina with the Ross River Solar Farm contract in 2017. Panalpina will control shipping, customs clearance, inland transport, warehousing and site coordination for ocean freight from Asia and the USA.

From mango farm to solar farm

Construction is now under way on a disused mango farm in the dry tropics of Queensland. The Ross River Solar Farm will have 417,000 solar panels installed with the capacity to generate 148 MW of clean energy – enough to power over 54,000 homes. The farm is expected to operate for up to 40 years, after which it will be refurbished for further use or decommissioned, returning the area to its natural condition.

“Downer insisted on a long-term cooperation for solar projects in Australia, and Panalpina is already engaged in logistics RFQs for new initiatives. They have a strong pipeline and we have put a framework agreement in place so they can add projects to our scope of work as they come online,” says Justin Bound, country head of Energy and Project Solutions for Australia and New Zealand.

Once the Ross River Solar Farm is complete, Downer will have facilitated the delivery of more than 2.3 GW of clean, zero emissions electricity to the Australian market.