Jai Thomas, WA Acting Director General, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Sam Barbaro, Western Power Chief Executive Officer, and Alison Harris, President of the Shire of Cunderdin, accompanied by Francisco Bustío, CEO of Global Power Generation (GPG), Pedro Serrano, Managing Director of Global Power Generation Australia, and Ciaran Shannon, CEO Monford, today inaugurated the Cunderdin Hybrid PV Solar + BESS Project. This pioneering project is Western Australia´s first large-scale solar and battery energy storage system, as well as the region´s first solar hybrid project-setting a new benchmark for renewable energy in Western Australia. It´s also the first hybridisation project of its kind developed by the Naturgy group in the world.
Cunderdin commenced operations after more than three months of intense and demanding performance operations under commissioning. This project consists of 229,500 modules and features a photovoltaic solar capacity of 128 MW, combined with a battery energy storage system of 55 MW/220 MWh.
This hybridised system is designed to provide four hours of constant supply at peak demand every day of the year, assisting the country’s decarbonisation goals by displacing other sources of non-renewable generation. It is estimated that its commissioning will prevent the emission of 140,000 tonnes of CO2 and will generate energy equivalent to the annual consumption of 51,000 homes.
The construction of Cunderdin has involved the participation of the equivalent of 100 full-time professionals. More than $229,000 has been utilised for engagement and benefit-sharing activities in the local community during the construction of the facility. Its location in Cunderdin, Western Australia, marks the expansion of GPG’s operations into the country’s South Western Interconnected System (SWIS).
Jai Thomas, Acting Director General, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
WA, noted that: “It is great to see the WA Government’s energy market reforms underpin innovative projects such as this.”
For Sam Barbaro, Western Power Chief Executive Officer, said “the energisation of the Cunderdin Hybrid Solar PV and Energy Storage Project represents another milestone on WA’s net-zero journey.This project has involved excellent collaboration and innovation between Western Power’s project team, GPG, and its contractors, and we’re proud to have assisted with the connection and commercial operation approval. Projects like this are important as we move towards a renewable future.”
“On behalf of Monford Group, I would like to sincerely thank GPG for their trust and collaboration in the successful completion of the Cunderdin Hybrid Project. It has been a pleasure working together, and we look forward to continuing this strong partnership in the future. A special thank you to our dedicated team, our supply chain and industry partners for their hard work and commitment in delivering this project with us, as well as to the local community for their continued support throughout the process. We are proud to be spearheading innovative projects like this one and contributing positively to the energy future of Australia”, commented Ciaran Shannon, CEO Monford Group.
For his part, Francisco Bustío, CEO of Global Power Generation, said at the opening ceremony that “Cunderdin represents our commitment to push the boundaries of innovation and sustainability. This project is a great achievement not only for our company, but also for the sector, setting new global benchmarks for the renewable generation industry”. For Bustío, “this project is an example of the resilience and expertise of our team, as well as a testament to our collaborative spirit and our strong commitment to a greener energy future. We have created lasting value for the communities we serve through job creation, economic growth and sustainable energy”.
Global Power Generation’s commitment to Australia
Global Power Generation is a company committed to advancing the energy transition, with a presence in more than 8 countries around the world, each contributing to a sustainable energy future. GPG Australia, the Australian division, has been a key player in the Australian renewable energy landscape for more than 15 years. With activities in Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Queensland, it develops high-value projects that drive the clean energy transition in Australia.
In recent years, GPG Australia has made significant progress, with more than 1 GW of installed capacity in the country. It currently has six wind farms in the country: Berrybank 1, Berrybank 2, Crookwell 2, Crookwell 3, Hawkesdale and Ryan Corner—its largest wind farm in the country with an output of 218 MW. In addition to these wind projects, in 2023, Naturgy commissioned the ACT Battery project, its first storage facility worldwide, and now the Cunderdin hybrid project.
In addition, GPG Australia remains committed to growth and continues to diversify and expand its renewable energy portfolio. It has 360 MW of additional solar capacity under construction and more than 1.5 GW in its portfolio with the aim of positioning itself as one of the leading companies in the global energy transition.
To meet this goal, GPG Australia has generated the equivalent of 1,680 direct full-time jobs. In addition, it plans to invest more than A$87 million in social initiatives over the life of the projects to support local communities and encourage their long-term development.
At the end of last year, GPG Australia received strong support for the management and development of its project portfolio in the country with the signing of a A$2.4 billion financing facility, equivalent to more than €1.4 billion. The financing operation was formalised with 11 international banks and is based on GPG’s portfolio of projects under operation and development in the country.
About Global Power Generation
Global Power Generation is the international renewable generation subsidiary of the Naturgy Group. Incorporated in 2014, Naturgy holds a 75% majority stake, with Wren House Infrastructure Management holding the remaining 25%. GPG manages a total installed capacity of almost 5,000 MW and employs more than 500 people worldwide.
