Malaysia energy giant Gamuda Renewables has bought into one of the biggest solar and battery hybrid projects in Australia, and is already looking at expanding the scale of the project to accommodate and power a co-located data centre.
Gamuda, a leading property and infrastructure developer in its home country, is already developing two approved wind and solar projects in the central highlands of Tasmania, and the Hazelwood North solar farm and battery is its first push into Victoria.
The project is located in the heart of Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, the centre of its brown coal generators and near the now shuttered Hazelwood coal fired power generator.
It already has approval for a 450 megawatt (MW) solar farm and a four-hour battery (1,800 MWh) that is scheduled to begin construction in 2028, but Gamuda and original owner Manthos Investments say they are already looking at expanding the scale of the project to allow for a co-located data centre.
“Hazelwood North marks a significant milestone for us — not only as our first Victorian asset, but as a project that captures exactly where the energy transition is heading,” said Jarred Hardman, chief strategy and development officer at Gamuda Renewables.
