Aldoga Solar Plant: The Cornerstone of a Sustainable Industry in Australia
The Aldoga Solar Farm, driven by ACCIONA Energía, is leveraging Australian steel to deliver clean energy that will drive a more sustainable—and local—industry.
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Long before the age of dinosaurs, before the first amoeba braved the primordial soup of early life, before the continents formed—almost before time itself—Earth trembled in darkness, its crust still cooling and taking shape during the Archean eon. It was in this ancient era that granite rocks and mineral deposits formed, creating the foundational elements that humanity would one day use, from the Stone Age through the Copper and Iron Ages. In the Pilbara region of Australia, geologists have discovered remnants of this ancient crust, dating back 3.6 billion years. This is the origin of the iron ore that has been used to create the materials supporting the Aldoga Solar Farm, that ACCIONA Energía is building in Australia.
Today, on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, thousands of solar panels stand on steel tubes made from ore extracted on the other side of the country. Where steel was once imported, the domestic steel industry has been strengthened, creating jobs, generating wealth, and fostering manufacturing independence in an era of global uncertainty. Furthermore, the Aldoga Farm will contribute to the development of a more sustainable industry, as detailed at the end of this feature. Continue reading to discover the extensive positive impacts solar energy can bring to a nation’s industrial landscape.
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MADE IN AUSTRALIA
The iron ore that enabled the construction of Aldoga Solar Farm in Queensland begins its journey in the arid western plateaus of Pilbara. This region, home to some of the oldest rocks and fossils on Earth, features mining settlements such as Tom Price and Newman alongside protected areas like Karijini National Park. The ore is then transported to New South Wales, in Australia’s easternmost corner, where it is processed in a local steel mill.
The journey of the ore doesn’t stop there. Orrcon Steel, an Australian company based in Brisbane, converts the material into steel tubes and beams that form the backbone of the Aldoga Solar Farm, located 20 kilometers northwest of Gladstone. These steel components are cut with high precision to support the photovoltaic panels, a task carried out by Baojia International, an Australian company. The tubes enable the movement of the panels to capture solar energy efficiently, a process that also depends on tracking systems built with locally produced components.
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THE ALDOGA SOLAR FARM
Once completed, the Aldoga Solar Farm, with its 380 MW capacity, will produce enough renewable energy to power 185,000 households and numerous businesses. The plant is also projected to prevent nearly one million tons of CO₂ emissions annually throughout its operational life. This initiative will not only help meet decarbonization targets but also boost the economy and industrial sectors.
Two of ACCIONA Energía’s main objectives with this installation were, on the one hand, to create a driving effect on local industries and, on the other, to create jobs in the region. During the construction of the Aldoga Solar Farm, the average workforce numbered 350, and Australian-made materials and components were used to bring the project to fruition. The plant is set to provide decades of benefits for the region, supported by a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that ensures a stable supply of renewable energy.
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"The average workforce numbered 350, and Australian-made materials and components were used to bring the project to fruition."
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Closing the sustainability loop
If our journey began in Pilbara’s primordial crust, it concludes in Queensland’s residential areas and industrial zones. The Queensland government aims to achieve 50% renewable energy by 2030 and 70% by 2032. This energy will not only power thousands of homes but also drive growth in local industries.
Using Australian-made materials and components is only part of the equation. Some of the energy from the Aldoga Solar Farm is expected to support the Central Queensland Hydrogen Project (CQ-H2), led by Stanwell Corporation. Green hydrogen, alongside solar and wind power, is becoming a cornerstone of sustainable industries, particularly in energy-intensive sectors such as agriculture, construction, and steelmaking. It’s likely that in the near future, Australian steel will be produced using green hydrogen generated by solar plants like Aldoga and wind farms like MacIntyre— a project also by ACCIONA Energía that, once completed, will be the largest in the southern hemisphere.
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Energy to power a nation
Sustainable development is impossible without placing renewable energy at its core. It is vital for achieving decarbonization targets and addressing climate change—a profound existential challenge for humanity. However, as this story illustrates, renewable energy also serves as a catalyst for industrial self-sufficiency and revitalizing rural communities. It’s about advancing production methods to be better, more sustainable, and capable of creating a lasting positive impact on local communities.
Today, the Iron Age, which shaped the foundation of human history, finds a natural continuation in what might one day be recognized as the Renewable Age.
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How the MacIntyre Wind Farm contributed to research on a species that once fed dinosaurs
In Queensland, Australia, construction is underway of one of the largest wind farms in the Southern Hemisphere and ACCIONA’s largest wind farm globally. Protecting native flora and fauna is a fundamental activity of this project. Read more to find out how.
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