Ashurst advises the University of Queensland on its landmark acquisition of the Warwick Solar Farm

The Warwick Solar Farm will make UQ the first major university in the world to offset 100 per cent of its electricity usage through its own renewable energy asset, and will make the university energy neutral by 2020. 

 

The Warwick Solar Farm, which is expected to be fully operational in 2019, is projected to generate about 154,000 megawatt hours of energy annually, which is the equivalent to powering approximately 27,000 homes. 

 

Lead partner on the project, Paul Newman (Utilities) commented: "We are delighted to bring our expertise in advising on the acquisition and development of large-scale utility solar projects in order to support UQ's acquisition of the Warwick Solar Farm.  This deal supports UQ's broader initiatives to become energy neutral by 2020 and clearly positions UQ as a market-leading solar generator among Australian universities.

 

"The Warwick Solar Farm will not only position the Southern Downs region as a renewable energy hub, but also demonstrates that Australian universities are emerging participants in the renewable energy sector."

 

The project received development approval from the Southern Downs Regional Council on 6 June 2018, and the connection agreement is currently being finalised. 

 

UQ will take ownership of the solar project development from renewable energy developer Terrain Solar, and will ultimately, own and operate the Warwick Solar Farm over its expected life.

 

Paul was assisted by counsel Teresa Scott and lawyers Tristan Shepherd and Eliza Brierley (Utilities); counsel Richard Brockett, senior associates Dallan Pitman and Eliana Breinl, with lawyers Ivan Biros and Connor Davies (Corporate); senior associate Libby McKillop (Resources and Native Title); partner Mark Disney, counsel Suzanne Cleary and Laura van den Berg, with senior associate Kate Robertson (Infrastructure); partner Damian Salsbury, senior associates Carol Kahler and Kellie Hairsine, with lawyer Emily Reyher (Real Estate); and senior associate Paul Wilson and lawyer Amaya Fernandez (Environment). 

 

Construction is expected to start by the end of 2018.