Broken Hill Solar Plant is a 53 MW solar power plant in New South Wales, Australia. It is operated by AGL Energy. Based on reported annual generation of 131 GWh, it can supply roughly 37k homes. It ranks #260 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 19.6% of Australia's electricity; the national grid averages 525 gCO₂/kWh (38.6% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id AUS0000477.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000805473; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 53 MW, Broken Hill Solar Plant is well above the median solar plant in Australia (47 MW). Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 28%, from 131 GWh of reported generation; the median for 8 solar plants in Australia that report generation is 19%
- Generation trend
- 92 GWh in 2016 and 131 GWh in 2018 (+42%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2018: 131 GWh; 2016: 92 GWh
- Share of Australia solar capacity
- 1.2% of 4,331 MW across 69 plants in this dataset
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by AGL Energy. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 32.0°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 66% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 25/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 0.4% at warm-season highs here (estimate).
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #33 largest solar power plant of 69 in Australia by capacity.
Australia has 69 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 4,331 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Broken Hill · Gas · 53 MW · New South Wales
Location
Coordinates -31.9867, 141.3915 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Broken Hill Solar Plant?
Broken Hill Solar Plant is a 53 MW solar power plant in New South Wales, Australia.
How much electricity does Broken Hill Solar Plant generate?
Broken Hill Solar Plant generates about 131 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Broken Hill Solar Plant?
Broken Hill Solar Plant is operated by AGL Energy.