Australia's Queensland state government said on Thursday that the country's largest 400-megawatt solar farm has the capacity to send more than 100 megawatts of electricity to the grid.

The A$600 million ($416 million/€409 million) solar power plant built by French developer Neoen SA (EPA: Neoen) is dubbed the Western Downs Green Energy Centre. According to the project website, a 200-megawatt battery will be added to the solar park.

Queensland's state-owned clean energy company CleanCo will undertake the 320 megawatt generation capacity of the solar farm.

The project is being phased out and is currently undergoing test work with Powerlink and the Australian Energy Market Operator. Located in the Western Downs region, close to Powerlink's transmission network and existing substations, the plant is expected to produce more than 1080 GWh per year.

CleanCo board chairman Jacqui Walters said the project reinforces CleanCo's commitment to bring 1,400 megawatts of new renewable energy to market by 2025. Walters also said the company will use this power purchase agreement (PPA) to help commercial and industrial customers achieve their net-zero goals and build their global competitiveness with competitively priced energy.

Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Minister Mick de Brenny said the project had already provided more than 450 construction jobs. "By building more cheap QLD energy from our abundant natural resources, we are also putting downward pressure on future electricity prices," he added.