Canberra's push to become Australia's solar capital is on track after the ACT government received 49 submissions to provide large-scale solar energy to the territory.
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Prospective providers were asked to blind bid for the right to establish a 40- megawatt solar plant.
The 49 submissions included a variety of solar technology options and different generation capacity proposals.
While the submissions are confidential, ActewAGL is believed to have submitted a proposal to build a 20-megawatt solar facility.
It is understood the facility would be built at a 40- hectare property at Williamsdale, 40 kilometres south of Canberra.
ACT Sustainable Development Minister Simon Corbell said the receipt of submissions brought the ACT a step closer to a cleaner energy future.
''Solar has to be at the centre of any sustainable energy strategy in the ACT,'' Mr Corbell said.
Mr Corbell said that 27 proposals had been nominated for consideration in the fast-track assessment stream, with pricing offers to be considered in the middle of the year.
The member for Molonglo said the proposal process had been conducted in two stages.
A prequalification stage short lists companies with the best capacity and track record to deliver the project.
Prequalified proponents were then invited to compete to provide solar energy to the territory.
Those businesses could then participate in a fast-track process to determine up to 20 megawatts of entitlements in mid-2012.
They could also bid for the 20 megawatts of capacity which is to be released in early 2013.
The ambitious ACT scheme is much larger than other projects around Australia now thought to be large, including a 10-megawatt facility in Geraldton, West Australia.
The Geraldton solar project was touted as the biggest nationally when it was announced in September last year but is expected to be surpassed quickly by numerous other initiatives.
