Fotowatio Renewable Ventures’ 130MW Clare Solar Farm near Ayr has started supplying electricity to the grid.

Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham welcomed the connection as further progress towards Queensland reaching the goal of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030.

“We have 890MW of renewables flowing into the grid already, much of it from Queenslanders who have embraced rooftop solar panels,” he said.

“Queensland’s large-scale renewable energy capacity is set to double over the next 12 months, as our $20 billion pipeline of committed and potential renewable projects starts to deliver.

“Latest figures from the Clean Energy Council show that more than half of all activity in large-scale solar in Australia is occurring in Queensland.”

Powerlink and Pacific Hydro Haughton Solar Farm have also finalised a connection agreement for the first stage of the potential 1200ha solar farm about 60km south of Townsville.

Pacific Hydro has obtained planning approval from the Burdekin Shire Council for up to 500MW of solar generation – the equivalent of powering 170,000 average Australian homes.

“The Haughton Solar Farm will create around 250 construction jobs and implement a number of initiatives to encourage local suppliers and businesses to provide services to the project,” Dr Lynham said.

“Up to 10 permanent operational jobs will also be created and Powerlink’s grid connection works will support another 43 jobs.”

A total of more than $4.2 billion worth of projects are currently either under construction or financially committed, offering a combined employment injection of more than 3500 construction jobs across regional Queensland and more than 2000 MW of power.