May 18 (Bloomberg) -- Australia’s government will announce in the first half of 2010 successful tenders for projects that will make up the world’s biggest solar station.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the government will invest A$1.4 billion ($1 billion) with industry in the projects, which will have some 1,000 megawatts of generation capacity. That would be enough to power about 800,000 homes, based on Bloomberg calculations.

“We’re doing it to boost economic activity,” Rudd told reporters yesterday in Liddell, north of Sydney, according to a transcript on his Web site. “We’re doing it also to provide jobs and much needed opportunities for business.”

The government will invest in clean energy as it seeks to lower carbon emissions and create jobs in an economy facing its first recession since 1991. Australia, the biggest shipper of coal and iron ore, will invest A$4.5 billion to help ensure 20 percent of its power generation is from renewable sources, according to the May 12 budget.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gemma Daley in Canberra at gdaley@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: May 17, 2009 22:54 EDT