Australia’s biggest solar farm enjoys less curtailment, but lower prices, as big battery starts commissioning

The owner of Australia’s two biggest operating solar farms has reported a significant jump in revenue in the latest quarter, helped by a large increase in new capacity and less curtailment, and despite lower wholesale prices.

The Philippines-based Acen Renewables owns the New England and Stubbo solar farms in New South Wales, both rated at 400 megawatts (MW). New England is to be expanded to 720 MW and a 200 MW, two-hour battery is also being built at the site.

The company – which has operations throughout Asia – has reported a near doubling in Australian generation output in the March quarter, up 87 per cent to 528 gigawatt-hours – largely due to the first full quarter of operations from the newly completed Stubbo solar facility.

“In Australia, results reflected lower merchant prices and higher depreciation and interest expense following Stubbo’s start of commercial operations, partially mitigated by improved generation output at New England solar farm, driven by reduced curtailment and better solar resource,” the company said.

The company’s earnings grew at a slower rate than both generation and revenues, growing by 59 per cent to P994 million ($A24.5 million), largely as a result of growing depreciation and interest costs associated with the completed Stubbo project.

Acen has long term off-take agreements for New England with Zen Energy and Flow Power, one for industrial gas company BOC and the other for the University of Technology.

Acen Renewables has also begun construction of the 75 MW Jinbi solar project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, a landmark project under the Yindjibarndi joint venture in Western Australia, commenced in March 2026.

It has a number of other projects in the pipeline, including the Valley of the Winds project in NSW, and the Phoenix pumped hydro project, and the Robbins Island wind project in Tasmania.

More information:https://reneweconomy.com.au/australias-biggest-solar-farm-enjoys-less-curtailment-but-lower-prices-as-big-battery-starts-commissioning/