Wollar Solar Development Pty Ltd is proposing to build a 400MW solar farm on an 800 hectare site about 7 kilometres south of Wollar Village. The proposed solar farm would connect to an existing TransGrid substation approximately 900m east of the proposal area.

The project will include a battery storage facility with a proposed storage capacity of 30MWH. Construction is planned to commence early in 2019 and to be complete early in 2020. The project is currently preparing a DA and Environmental Impact Statement.

For more information: https://www.wollarsolarfarm.com.au/ Contact: 1300 708 818.

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment announced in February that ‘NSW leads the nation for solar farms’.

The Department stated: ‘The number of solar farms approved in NSW doubled in 2017 with future capacity to support more than 1,800 jobs and power about half a million homes with sustainable energy. Minister for Planning and Housing, Anthony Roberts, said the state’s planning system gave the green light to 10 projects in 2017, twice the number of projects approved the year before. Once the 10 solar projects are up and running, they will have a combined solar capacity of nearly 1,200 megawatts and collectively reduce carbon emissions by over 2.5 million tonnes.’

‘Sunny Central West NSW proved to be a hotspot in 2017, with six of the 10 proposals coming from the region.’

‘Our state already benefits from three operating solar farms in Nyngan, Moree and Broken Hill. There are another seven solar projects currently under construction across regional NSW in Parkes, Yoogali, Manildra, Dubbo, Glenn Innes, Goulburn and Forbes.’

‘Solar farm proposals approved by the NSW Government in 2017:

  • Limondale Solar Farm, Balranald, Far West NSW (250 MW)
  • Sunraysia Solar Farm, Balranald, Far West NSW (200 MW)
  • Coleambally Solar Farm, Coleambally, Riverina Murray NSW (150 MW)
  • Nevertire Solar Farm, Dubbo, Central West NSW (120 MW)
  • Hillston Sun Farm, Hillston, Central West NSW (100 MW)
  • Metz Solar Farm, Armidale, New England North West NSW (100 MW)
  • Gilgandra Solar Farm, Gilgandra, Central West NSW (40 MW)
  • Walgett Solar Farm, Walgett, Central West NSW (30MW)
  • Beryl Solar Farm, Gulgong, Central West NSW (95MW)
  • Hay Solar Farm, Central West NSW (100MW)
  • Finley Solar Farm, Central West NSW (170 MW)

Total solar power capacity: 1,355 Megawatts’

Source: http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/News/2018/NSW-leads-nation-for-solar-farms

Mudgee District Environment Group (MDEG) has special focus areas of Energy, Biodiversity, Water and Mining. https://mdeg.org.au/ Contact: 0427 920 887