General News
1 October, 2025
'It's bullshit': Normanton Solar Farm forced to close down
The game-changing facility for the Gulf has stopped feeding power into the local grid.
The visionary behind the Normanton Solar Farm faces financial ruin after Ergon Energy lowered its purchase price so much that it became unviable to operate.
Doug Scouller is not allowed to talk to North West Weekly – he was forced by Ergon to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) just to enter into negotiations with them – but says he’s speaking out because he’s got no choice but to fight for his survival.
“I had to sign the NDA just to find out what they were offering,” he said.
“I don’t mind speaking (about my situation) because I’ve got nothing to lose.
“If things don't change, I'll lose everything.”
Mr Scouller wouldn’t reveal prices, but said Ergon had lowered its power purchase rate so much that he would have to pay Ergon to take power from his solar farm, rather than the other way around.
A spokesperson for Ergon said the monopoly power provider would “continue to be available to discuss the situation with Mr Scouller”.
“Due to the commercially confidential nature of recent negotiations between Ergon Energy Retail and Normanton Solar Farm, we will not be responding to Mr Scouller’s comments made to media or commenting on the reasons why Mr Scouller has made the decision to switch off the solar farm,” the spokesperson said.
“Mr Scouller was able to renew his contract to sell power from the solar farm to Ergon Retail or to any other buyer but has chosen not to sign a new contract with Ergon Retail.
“There are no issues with energy supply or the energy network as a result of this decision by Mr Scouller.
“We continue to be available to discuss the situation with Mr Scouller, should he choose to contact us.”
Carpentaria Shire mayor Jack Bawden was one of about 30 locals who turned up at the Normanton Solar Farm on Wednesday morning as Mr Scouller switched off the connection to the grid.
He described the impasse between Ergon and Normanton Solar Farm as “bullshit”.
“Disappointed would be an understatement. It's bullshit, basically,” Cr Bawden said, pointing to the fact that this could be an emerging trend between privately owned renewable companies and government-owned energy providers.
“It makes a joke of every bit of renewable energy sales pitch that (the governments) have used over the years, conning everyone.
“Basically, they're going to charge you a ‘sun tax’ for want of a better word. If you’re feeding back into the grid, you’re going to get hit with a tariff.
“It’s already started in New South Wales, so it's not just a Queensland thing – it's going to be a national thing.”
The mayor said the Normanton Solar Farm had been a game-changer for the region, citing the experiences that residents faced prior to it being commissioned in 2017.
The Gulf was infamous for its “brownouts”, which were often worse than blackouts because they would destroy appliances as a result of fluctuations in the voltage.
Normanton and Karumba are at the very end of the grid, which starts in Townsville.
“This solar farm has been a godsend to the communities in the Gulf because it's cleaned up all the dirty power that we used to get here,” Cr Bawden said.
“The bloody people on the east coast and down south don't realise the implications of a burnt-out fridge, a deep freezer or air conditioner.
“They don’t know what it’s like when you have to order a replacement from Cairns or Mount Isa and wait a week-and-a-half or two weeks for it to be delivered, or when you have to jump in your car and drive to Mount Isa five hours one-way to pick something up.
“It’s ridiculous.”
Member for Traeger Robbie Katter is far from an ambassador for renewable energy, but he said he was furious with Ergon’s treatment of Mr Scouller and the Normanton Solar Farm.
“Without being an expert, it's hard to see how you'd get a better-positioned renewable energy source for the grid,” he told North West Weekly.
“It's the end of a line and it's not competing against any effective generators in that area.
“It played a strong role in getting the real cost of energy provision down in the Gulf and could, in some way, help the stability of power supply.
“The government seem hellbent on building more and more renewables on the coast, competing against other generators, but then they’ve gone and pulled the rug from underneath this fella in the Gulf.
“If anything, they're pioneers in renewable energy and put it where it was of some strong benefit.
“It just beggars belief why they'd let this one wither on the vine.”
Mr Katter said he had made representations to Treasurer and Energy Minister David Janetzki, hoping he would intervene in the situation.
“I think he needs to,” the MP said.
“We've made deputations to the Treasurer and the Department as well, because it would seem a bit contradictory that they're trying to embolden or encourage others to put renewable energy projects in the ground around Queensland and Doug is one of the pioneers.
“I think a lot of these renewable solar farms they're putting in are just downright silly and make no sense, but this is one that did make sense and that's precisely when the Minister needs to step in and pull rank and say this might fit your criteria but it doesn't pass the pub test.”
North West Weekly contacted Mr Janetzki’s office for a comment, but received a one-line non-answer.
“These matters are commercial-in-confidence and Energy Queensland remains available for ongoing engagement with the proponent,” a spokesperson said.
Remarkably, just hours after Mr Scouller turned off the Normanton Solar Farm’s connection to the grid, the Gulf community suffered a power outage.
Ergon denied it was linked to the solar farm closure.
“We invested some $15 million into this solar farm,” Mr Scouller said.
“Everyone has a right to get a return on their money. And I'm not after a big price, even though that'd be lovely.
“Ergon is not thinking of the impact it will have on the community.
“Because it’s a very long line, you get a lot of dirty power out this way. The voltage gets in front of the current, or gets behind the current, and it’s all got to be cleaned up.
“When I put the farm in, I got all of those big inverters and they correct the power.”
“I was only thinking about it the other day that the number of blackouts have reduced out this way. The number of brownouts have certainly disappeared.”
Mr Scouller, who built the End of the Road Motel in Karumba, said the brownouts were costly.
“At one stage, we were Harvey Norman's best customer because we were buying new fridges, TVs … I think I replaced every TV in that motel three times over the 15 years I was there,” he said.
Mr Katter said Ergon should be liable for compensating Gulf residents if brownouts returned to the region, impacting local appliances.
“My word, they should,” he said.
“If they're going to fail to provide a stabilised grid, then they should be compensating people because there's no reason anyone out there should expect any less of a service standard and electricity provision than someone on the coast."
The Normanton Solar Farm feeds into the Normanton substation, but also services Karumba, Burketown, Kowanyama and the Burke and Wills Roadhouse.
"I effectively liven up an area the size of Tasmania," Mr Scouller said.
However, despite supplying 100 per cent of Normanton’s daytime energy for the past nine years as part of a power purchase agreement, Ergon opted to shift the goal posts.
"Nothing has changed out here but (Ergon) is saying that on the east coast, when all those rooftop solar panels come in, there’ll be no need for power during the day.
"But, we're 900 kilometres from the east coast and the peak of the load out here is in the middle of the day, so I'm producing power when it's needed."
Cr Bawden said the governments should be investing in the Normanton Solar Farm with the installation of batteries, rather than walking away from Mr Scouller.
“Normanton could be self-sufficient,” he said.
“Like I say, it's disappointing and it's a step backwards.
“What I do know is if (the state government) can muster up the resources and everything to take on the CFMEU and have an inquiry into their behaviour, then surely to God something can be done about Ergon and their lack of respect for humanity. It's ridiculous.”
