Planned solar farms at Nevertire, Walgett, Gilgandra and Metz would generate a total of 645 construction jobs and power almost 103,000 homes annually, according to the state government.
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The NSW Department of Planning and Environment has approved the projects after consulting “extensively with the community, landowners and local councils”.
Private companies seeking to build the solar farms must now seek construction certificates.
Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts considers that north-west NSW is fast becoming one of the solar power generation hubs of the state.
“NSW’s four new solar farms will have capacity to supply 275 megawatts of energy to the grid for NSW communities, businesses and services,” he said. “NSW continues to lead Australia in large-scale solar. We are committed to our country’s Renewable Energy Target and the State’s Renewable Energy Action Plan, and we are well on the way toward the 20 per cent target for renewable energy by 2020. Our focus is on ensuring energy security and affordability for our communities, businesses and services.”
The Nevertire solar farm would be the biggest of the four, with capacity of 105 megawatts and the ability to annually power 39,286 homes.
Metz, east of Armidale, would be home to a solar farm with capacity of 100 megawatts and the ability to annually power 37,416 homes.
The Gilgandra and Walgett solar farms would have capacity of 40 and 30 megawatts, respectively. Together, they would power more than 26,000 homes.
The department reports of strict conditions in place to control the “construction impacts” of the projects, and ensure “no adverse visual impacts on surrounding residences”. The four new solar farms are among 16 large-scale solar projects in NSW to get a green light.“When the four new farms begin operation, NSW’s 16 large-scale solar farms will generate sustainable power for 423,000 households, with a combined capacity for 1131 megawatts of renewable energy,” Mr Roberts said.