Australia: Elgin Energy launches a major solar project in Victoria

Elgin Energy obtains approval for the Elaine Solar Farm project in Victoria, promising to significantly increase the region's renewable energy production capacity.
Développement de projet solaire.

Partagez:

Elgin Energy has received approval from the Victorian government to develop its flagship project: the Elaine solar farm. Located around 120 kilometers west of Melbourne, the 150 MW facility will also include a 250 MWh battery energy storage system. This approval, which comes three months after that of the Shady Creek Solar Farm project, marks a significant acceleration in Elgin’s renewable energy investments in Australia.

Impact on Victoria’s Energy Objectives

The Elaine project will make a significant contribution to achieving Victoria’s renewable energy targets, set at 50% by 2030. As well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this initiative is part of Elgin’s wider strategy to develop over 4GW of projects across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

Project details and infrastructure

The Elaine project will be spread over two blocks totalling around 230 hectares, with some 260,000 solar panels mounted on a single-axis tracking system. The solar farm and energy storage system will be connected to the grid via a new 220kV transmission line to the adjacent Elaine terminal station, strengthening the region’s energy infrastructure.

Outlook and Future Developments

With commissioning scheduled for 2026, the Elaine project is Elgin’s largest hybrid project to date. This development adds to the company’s recent projects in Australia, the UK and Ireland, totalling 6GW of solar and 3GW of storage under development, testifying to Elgin Energy’s rapid growth in the renewable energy market.
The Victorian Government’s approval of the Elaine Solar Farm project is an important milestone not only for Elgin Energy, but also for the future of renewable energy in Australia. With its extensive capabilities and commitment to sustainable development, Elgin is positioned as a key player in the region’s energy transition.

Générale du Solaire has inaugurated in Leutenheim, Bas-Rhin, a floating photovoltaic plant of approximately 20 MWc installed on a former gravel pit, marking the region's first large-scale project supported by successful local participatory funding.
Plenitude and Modine have signed an agreement to build a photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of 1.585 MWp in Pocenia, designed to power thermal and refrigeration equipment at Modine’s Italian industrial site, without initial investment.
Bangladesh’s interim government has ordered mandatory deployment of solar systems on public building rooftops to reduce reliance on costly fossil fuel imports amid a fragile economic backdrop.
The Energy Progress Report 2025 shows an improvement in global electricity access to 92%, but highlights that 666 million people remain without electricity, particularly due to insufficient international funding for rural areas.
Estimated at $384.4mn in 2025, the global photovoltaic panel recycling market is expected to grow annually by 7.4%, reaching $548mn in 2030, driven by the rapidly increasing number of installations reaching end-of-life.
Estimated at $613.57bn in 2025, the global photovoltaic market is expected to reach $968.32bn by 2030, driven by declining costs and growing demand from residential and utility sectors, according to a MarketsandMarkets analysis published on June 26.
Sasol International Chemicals concludes a virtual contract with Akuo to supply half of the electrical needs for its Lake Charles industrial complex in the United States, via a solar plant scheduled for 2026.
Eurowind Energy initiates a €174.8mn investment to build a 220 MW solar park in Vișina, Romania, capable of supplying around 150,000 households annually.
CleanCapital expands its portfolio by acquiring solar and energy storage assets totaling 27 MW in California and Massachusetts from Pacifico Energy to meet growing demand in the United States.
BrightNight and Cordelio Power commission a major 300 megawatt solar project in Arizona, attracting significant investments from JPMorgan and Capital One, with estimated local economic benefits of $180mn.
Austria is launching an unprecedented 20% bonus on photovoltaic subsidies to promote equipment manufactured in Europe, with a total envelope of €20 million dedicated to solar installations and energy storage systems.
Chinese manufacturer Longi will invest alongside Pertamina NRE in a 1.6 GW site at Deltamas, aiming to strengthen the local photovoltaic chain and capture demand expected under Indonesia’s power plan.
OMV Petrom acquires 50% of the 400 MW Gabare photovoltaic project near Sofia, in partnership with Enery, in a deal valued at approximately €200 million including a potential energy storage solution.
Driven by strong solar adoption, the global SCADA systems market for renewable energy is expected to reach $3.56bn by 2030, with an estimated average annual growth rate of 12.7%, according to MarketsandMarkets.
RATP and Urbasolar officially inaugurated the Colombier photovoltaic power plant, the first large-scale solar installation operated by the Parisian public transport operator, set to produce 14 GWh of electricity per year.
Danish developer European Energy finalises financing deal exceeding €70m for constructing two Australian solar plants, totalling 137 megawatts of installed capacity on the local electricity market.
The African Development Bank financially supports Zambia with $26.5 million for the 32 MW Ilute solar project, structured to avoid reliance on sovereign guarantees.
Emeren Group Ltd announces a definitive merger agreement with Shurya Vitra Ltd, providing for the repurchase of shares at $0.20 each, aiming to transform the company into a private entity by the end of September 2025.
The global solar tracker market is expected to reach $29.31bn by 2030, driven by a compound annual growth rate of 26.2%, notably supported by large-scale photovoltaic projects and recent technological advances, a new study reports.
A report from the think tank Ember reveals that falling battery prices now make year-round solar power generation economically viable in the world's sunniest regions.