Emerald Solar Farm is a 84 MW solar power plant in Queensland, Australia. It is operated by Lighthouse Solar Fund. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 36k homes (estimated). It ranks #204 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2019, it is around 7 years old — recently built. 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 AUS0000581.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is a source-verified 2026 capacity claim: 84 MW for Emerald Solar Park.
GEM · 2026 · operating plant capacity
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000805475; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 84 MW, Emerald Solar Farm is well above the median solar plant in Australia (47 MW). Technically it is described as PV. 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
- Share of Australia solar capacity
- 1.9% of 4,331 MW across 69 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 25 of 37 dated solar plants in Australia are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest solar plants in Australia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Lighthouse Solar Fund.
Local climate & thermal context
This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a hot semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 23.5°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 94% 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: 16/100 — 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 1.1% 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 #24 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
- Lilyvale Solar Farm · Solar · 125 MW · Queensland
- Oaky Creek · Gas · 20 MW · Queensland
- German Creek · Gas · 45.2 MW · Queensland
- Clermont Solar Farm · Solar · 89 MW · Queensland
- Galilee Power project · Coal · 1,400 MW · Queensland
Location
Coordinates -23.5084, 148.1347 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Emerald Solar Farm?
Emerald Solar Farm is a 84 MW solar power plant in Queensland, Australia, commissioned in 2019.
Who operates Emerald Solar Farm?
Emerald Solar Farm is operated by Lighthouse Solar Fund.