SmartestEnergy contracts half of Neoen’s 350-MW solar farm in NSW

Energy retailer SmartestEnergy has contracted half of the output of a 350-MW/440-MWp solar farm developed and owned by French renewables company Neoen SA (EPA:NEOEN) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

The companies have signed a four-year power purchase agreement (PPA) related to the Culcairn Solar Farm. The contract will come into force in late 2026, Neoen said in a statement published today.

The Culcairn project is under construction in Wiradjuri country in the Riverina region and is expected to be commissioned in 2026. The plant is Neoen’s second largest solar farm globally after the 460-MWp solar farm at Western Downs Green Power Hub in Queensland.

“We are delighted to sign our first PPA with SmartestEnergy, and we sincerely thank them for placing their trust in us. We are looking forward to the major contribution the project will play in powering businesses as well as supporting NSW’s rapid energy transition,” said Neoen’s CEO Jean-Christophe Cheylus.

The Culcairn site also has a long-term energy services agreement (LTESA) through the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) Services’ tenders under the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.

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