WANGARATTA, VIC – 21 May 2026
The CleanPeak Wangaratta Solar Farm was officially opened today by the Mayor of the Rural City of Wangaratta Cr Irene Grant, at the ribbon cutting event attended by community leaders, project partners and Traditional Owners.
Located in North Wangaratta, the 38MWdc Wangaratta Solar Farm has been operating since late 2025 and represents a major investment in renewable energy infrastructure for north-east Victoria. Designed and built by CleanPeak Energy, the project combines 33MW of grid-connected solar generation with a dedicated renewable energy connection supporting the nearby Alpine MDF manufacturing facility.
Situated across approximately 74 hectares of industrial land in North Wangaratta, the solar farm includes more than 70,000 Longi 540-watt solar panels mounted on Nextracker sun-tracking systems that follow the sun’s daily movement to maximise energy generation.
Whilst being designated industrial land, the Wangaratta Solar Farm also supports agricultural activity with approximately 300 sheep grazing onsite. This dual use benefits both the sheep who enjoy the shade provided by the solar infrastructure and the land which is expected to see biodiversity improvements over time due to the controlled grazing.
The ribbon cutting ceremony featured a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony conducted by Uncle Dozer Atkinson of the Bangerang People, recognising the cultural significance of the land and the importance of respectful collaboration throughout the project.
CleanPeak Energy Founder and CEO Philip Graham said the project demonstrates how regional renewable energy developments can deliver long-term environmental, economic and community benefits.
“The Wangaratta Solar Farm is an important milestone for CleanPeak Energy and for the broader transition to renewable energy in regional Australia,” Mr Graham said.
“This project not only delivers reliable clean energy into the local electricity network, but also creates local employment opportunities, supports regional industry and strengthens our long-term presence in Wangaratta.”
The project is capable of generating approximately 75GWh of renewable energy annually (inclusive of the Alpine MDF connection), enough to avoid close to 60,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
The site also incorporates a 5MW / 22MWh battery energy storage system connected to Alpine MDF via a dedicated 1.5-kilometre private high-voltage connection, helping support the manufacturer’s renewable energy and sustainability targets.
Construction of the Wangaratta Solar Farm commenced in 2024 following extensive planning and development works. Key project milestones included major civil works and first pile in April
2024, the installation of the Nextracker racking system and solar panels in August 2024, completion of the switch yard and energisation in March 2025, with commissioning and gradual energisation over the year. The 20 MWh BESS to Alpine MDF was commissioned in January 2026.
CleanPeak Energy has also strengthened its local presence through the opening of a Wangaratta office in 2025, providing a regional base for its team working across renewable energy projects in north-east Victoria.
The company has additionally partnered with Merriwa, an organisation supporting employment opportunities for people with disability. Merriwa team members contributed to landscaping and planting works at the Wangaratta site as part of CleanPeak’s broader commitment to social procurement and inclusive employment.
“This is a practical example of how development in Wangaratta can balance industry, community, and local land use. “ Cr Irene Grant, Mayor of Rural City of Wangaratta said.
Developments of this scale bring real economic and social benefits the municipality by engaging local enterprises such as Merriwa Industries.”
Event Details
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Wangaratta Solar Farm, Corner Bowser Road and Bourke Road, North Wangaratta, on Thursday 21 May 2026.
Speakers included:
- Philip Graham, Founder & CEO, CleanPeak Energy
- Jon Hare, Founder & COO, CleanPeak Energy
- Cr Irene Grant, Mayor, Rural City of Wangaratta
- Uncle Dozer Atkinson, Elder, Bangerang People
About CleanPeak Energy – www.cleanpeakenergy.com.au
CleanPeak Energy is an Australian, specialist renewable energy company. We develop, build, own and operate a portfolio of solar, battery, embedded-network and thermal energy infrastructure assets – providing smart, reliable and cost-effective energy to our customers. Our tailored solutions make us the trusted partner of major Australian corporations and governments seeking to become more sustainable, reduce their carbon emissions and transition to net-zero. Our mission is to rapidly decarbonise energy generation in Australia and become Australia’s leading provider of distributed energy solutions.
Since our inception in 2017, CleanPeak Energy has rapidly grown to be a major force in the development and operation of distributed energy and utility infrastructure. Our core business is the development of solar and battery assets to meet the energy needs of corporate customers seeking a pathway to net zero. We specialise in distributed energy solutions – generation & storage systems purpose-built at a client’s site that provide clean, reliable and cost-effective power right where it is needed.
Alongside our solar and battery fleet, CleanPeak has specialised capability in the operation and management of large-scale sustainable infrastructure precincts. As investors in and operators of the utility infrastructure at the Barangaroo, Central Park, Mascot and Tonsley precincts, we provide services such as electricity via embedded network assets, thermal heating and cooling, recycled water and EV charging – optimising and balancing generation from solar and storage assets to meet customer needs.
Media Enquiries:
For more information please contact:
Kate Evans
Marketing & Communications Lead
CleanPeak Energy
kate.evans@cleanpeakenergy.com.au
PH: +61 405 963 067
