Quinbrook seeks approval for large solar farms to help power Australia's push into making silicon for PV

Australian investment giant Quinbrook is moving ahead with the first of two big solar projects that could one day power its plans to grab a share of the global solar PV supply chain that is now dominated by China.

Quinbrook has unveiled plans to set up a manufacturing facility in north Queensland, with an initial focus on a microchip-grade silicon plant in that will be at least partly powered by up to 500 megawatts of solar capacity and a previously approved big battery.

The developer has filed an application under the federal government’s EPBC Act, for a 150 MW component of that project known as Lansdown Solar West project.Up to 400 MW is being reserved for the bigger North part of the development.

“The purpose of the proposed action is to supply renewable electricity to the Northern Quartz Campus within the [Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct],” the referral says.

“The Northern Quartz Campus comprises a series of advanced manufacturing and battery energy storage projects, which combine to create Australia’s first integrated solution to convert Queensland-mined quartz into high purity silicon for solar panels and semiconductors.”