Stanwell Asset Maintenance Company (SAMCo), has signed a five-year contract with RATCH Australia Corporation (RAC), for operations and maintenance (O&M) services for the Collinsville Solar Farm.

SAMCo is the newly launched subsidiary of government-owned energy company Stanwell, providing new training and job opportunities in renewables for its workforce.

Stanwell Asset Maintenance Company (SAMCo) was launched in November 2023 as a new subsidiary of Stanwell Corporation, focused on providing operations and maintenance services to renewable energy projects owned by Stanwell and for other asset owners and operators throughout Queensland and Australia.

The Collinsville Solar Farm contract marks SAMCo’s first solar O&M win, providing two permanent roles at the site, along with several renewable energy work experience opportunities for Stanwell’s Development Pathways Program, and subcontracting opportunities for local small businesses.

SAMCo will manage electricity operations, scheduled inspections, maintenance and repairs to all the panels, inverters and high voltage systems, routine cleaning of the panels to maximise electricity generation, grass and weed control in and around the site and maintenance of the fire break around the facility.

SAMCo will leverage Stanwell’s highly skilled workforce and experience as one of the most reliable and safest operators in the National Electricity Market to optimise the performance of its clients’ renewable energy assets.

Quotes attributable to Michael O’Rourke, CEO Stanwell:

“Partnering with renewable energy companies like RATCH-Australia is critical to building our renewable energy service capabilities and delivering on our strategy to provide future job pathways for our people. It also supports the State Government’s Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan and the Job Security Guarantee.

“Stanwell has one of the most reliable and safest generation portfolios in the country and our highly skilled workforce is looking forward to using our proven systems and skills to support SAMCo in delivering world-class asset maintenance services to our partners and our own growing portfolio of renewable energy projects.”

Quotes attributable to Sahachthorn Putthong, CEO RATCH-Australia Corporation:

“As one of the largest owners and operators of renewable and firming energy generation assets in the Australian market, we are pleased to embark on a new partnership with Queensland government-owned renewable energy maintenance firm, Stanwell Asset Maintenance Company (SAMCo), marking our commitment to clean energy in this state.

“Stanwell has a strong track record in reliably and safely maintaining energy generation assets in Queensland, and it’s that track record that cemented SAMCo as our preferred partner for our Collinsville Solar Farm.

“Since opening in 2018, the Collinsville Solar Farm has produced enough electricity each year to power up to 15,000 homes, offsetting 90,000tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions (Co2) a year. With more than 230 MW in operation and a further 800 MW under development in Queensland, RATCH-Australia is strongly committed to supporting the State’s transition to cleaner, reliable and affordable energy for future generations.”

Background

About RATCH Australia

Collinsville Solar Farm is located in North Queensland, 90km south-west of Bowen. RAC has been present in Collinsville since the acquisition of the Collinsville Coal Power Station in 2011. With the end-of-life decommissioning of Collinsville Coal Power Station in 2013, RAC developed the 42.5MW Solar Farm which was commissioned in 2018. Collinsville Solar Farm consists of approximately 180,000 individual solar PV panels and produces enough electricity each year to power up to 15,000 homes. The project offsets 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions (Co2) a year.

Over more than a decade, RAC’s portfolio of generation assets has continued to evolve to produce 1.65 GW of energy capacity, with more than $1.3bn invested in the last four years into greenfield renewable projects across Australia. The investment includes the successful delivery of nearly 600MW of new wind and solar projects, including the Mount Emerald Wind Farm in 2019 which generates 180MW, the equivalent to powering 75,000 residential properties in Far North Queensland.

About Stanwell

Stanwell is a major provider of electricity and energy solutions to Queensland, the National Electricity Market and large energy users along the eastern seaboard of Australia.

Stanwell is developing a pipeline of renewable energy and storage projects throughout Queensland, finding cleaner ways to reliably generate and store electricity for customers and deliver on the Queensland Government’s renewable energy targets of 70% by 2032 and 80% by 2035.

Stanwell’s portfolio includes over 3,000 MW of renewable energy under contract, in construction or development as well as two of the most efficient and reliable coal-fired power stations in Australia—the Tarong power stations near Kingaroy and Stanwell Power Station west of Rockhampton.

Stanwell is driving the development of Queensland’s hydrogen industry and the use of other new technologies, with a $117 million FEED study underway to progress the development of the country’s largest renewable hydrogen export hub in Gladstone.