Edify achieves financial close on Queensland solar-battery projects

Shree Mishra

Wed, May 20, 2026 at 9:57 AM EDT 2 min read

Edify Energy has announced financial close on the Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap solar and storage projects in Queensland, Australia.

These projects feature a combined capacity of 720MW-peak (MWp) of solar power and 600MW/2.4GW-hours (GWh) of battery storage. They represent the largest solar and battery hybrid initiatives currently under construction in the country, according to Edify Energy.

Situated in central Queensland on the Gaangalu Nation People’s traditional lands, these projects are backed by a consortium of 14 domestic and international lenders.

Edify Energy was supported by shareholder La Caisse and a syndicate of domestic and international lenders in reaching the financial close.

The projects will be linked into Powerlink’s 275kV network through a new terminal station.

Phase one of the projects will deliver a 600MW grid connection, 720 MWp of solar photovoltaic and 600MW/2.4GWh of lithium‑ion battery storage distributed across the solar field using a direct current‑coupled design.

Malaysia-based Gamuda has won contracts exceeding RM3bn ($754m) to deliver the Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap solar power station projects, which are expected to be completed within two and a half years. Its wholly owned Australian subsidiary, DT Infrastructure, will operate and maintain both assets after construction.

The two projects are underpinned by solar and battery hybrid services agreements with Rio Tinto. The mining company will buy 90% of the power and battery storage capacity produced by the projects over a 20-year period to support its Gladstone aluminium operations.

Edify Energy CEO Ben Warne said: “Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap are critical projects in the energy transition, generating cost-effective, reliable and dispatchable renewable energy. These are the first projects to reach financial close under La Caisse ownership and reflect the scale of Edify’s and La Caisse’s ambition in making a meaningful contribution to the energy transition.

“With our customer partner Rio Tinto, enhanced local community and local content benefits being available under the Capacity Investment Scheme [CIS] and strong support from our financing partners, these projects will strengthen Queensland’s and Australia’s energy system while delivering lasting benefits for the communities of the Banana Shire and the Gaangalu Nation People.”

The projects have also secured long-term support under the Australian Government’s CIS.

The Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap projects will generate clean energy for both industry and households while creating up to 800 jobs during peak construction.