Curious community members with an interest in renewable energy got a rare behind-the-scenes look at a groundbreaking solar farm in Dubbo on Sunday.
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The first-of-its-kind open day attracted hundreds of people who were eager to learn more about the $20 million Sheraton Road development.
Switched on in June 2018, the 55-hectare farm is home to about 56,000 panels and 150 of landowner Tom Warren's sheep.
"We estimate we're powering about 11,000 to 12,000 homes and that would be the equivalent of taking nearly 15,000 cars off the road in terms of emissions or planting half a million trees," Neoen's senior community relations manager Lisa Stiebel said.
"Because we hadn't opened the Dubbo Solar Farm up before we thought the open day was a good opportunity for everyone in Dubbo to come along for a bit of a look," she said.
"A lot of people have been saying they drive past on a regular basis and they've been wondering about it."
Mr Warren said since the solar operation was constructed on his land "the net benefit and productivity per hectare of that land has dramatically increased".
He said his Merino wethers took advantage of the shade the solar panels provided and enjoyed munching on green grass grown thanks to dew that drips off the panels.
"Grazing of sheep of the appropriate breed and solar farming can co-exist without a problem whatsoever and with a net benefit overall to the community, the owner of the land and the owner of the sheep," Mr Warren said in a video promoting the farm.
Dubbo resident Gary Black is another solar supporter. He attended the open day, praised solar power and said it was a safe source of energy.
"We've got to use the energy from the sun... we've got to stop burning coal," he told the Daily Liberal.
Ms Stiebel said Neoen had "a strong pipeline of other projects" it hoped to build.
"We're really happy and keen to be part of the energy transition in Australia," she said.
"Wind, solar and battery storage have a major role to play and those are the three things that we do and we do them well and at scale."
