By Jeremy Sollars
Connection of the University of Queensland (UQ) Warwick Solar Farm to the electricity grid has been delayed due to COVID-19, the university says.
Power generation from the site – with electricity to be fed into the general Ergon network – was expected to have started by the end of March.
But a UQ spokesman this week told the Free Times “minor delays” had occurred “including from the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated sudden changes to the way we work and travel”.
“We have been working closely with Ergon Energy and (lead contractor) Lendlease to adapt to these changes and manage risks accordingly in line with Government recommendations and requirements,” the UQ spokesman said.
The spokesman said UQ expects to generate power from the site “in the next few weeks.”
Construction of solar panels on the 154-hectare site at Sladevale just north of Warwick was completed last year after commencing in February 2019.
In recent months work has progressed on other aspects of the project including a visitor centre which when completed will be open to the public.
The UQ spokesman said recruitment for a ‘site manager’ has also been “impacted by the current COVID-19 situation”.
“We had shortlisted and were about to commence interviews before being forced to temporarily pause this process due to the circumstances,” the UQ spokesman said.
“We hope to resume this process within the next few weeks also.
“Separate to UQ’s recruitment, Lendlease has also recently started recruiting ongoing operations and maintenance personnel.
“For the one role I am aware has been finalised so far the successful candidate is from Warwick.
“It’s important to note that all operational positions require a near continuous presence on-site.
“This means that successful candidates will either need to be based in the region already or willing to move to the region.”
UQ has previously said power generation from the Warwick Solar Farm would offset by 100% electricity use annually at its St Lucia Campus in Brisbane.
Other recent activities on the site have included installation and testing of switching equipment along with construction of 3.5km of overhead lines to the nearby Ergon Warwick substation.
