New AUD768 million 720 MW solar farm approved in Australia

New South Wales Independent Planning Commission in Australia has approved with conditions new AUD768 million (US$509 million) 720 MW New England Solar Farm. The planning approval was sought by UPC Renewables Australia Pty Ltd.

The solar farm would comprise more than 2.4 million solar panels, 150 power conversion units, and a lithium-ion battery storage facility to be installed on 3362 hectares of agricultural land, 6km east of Uralla. It would connect to TransGrid’s existing transmission line that transects the development site.

The Department of Planning, Industry & Environment finalized its assessment of the proposed development in December last year. The state significant development (SSD) application came to the Commission for determination because 67 public objections were received during the exhibition.

After the site investigation and community public meeting, the Commission has concluded the proposed solar farm is in the public interest and determined to approve the SSD application, subject to conditions.

The Commission found the transport and traffic impacts associated with the project can be appropriately mitigated and managed through conditions of consent – noting that the Applicant will be required to prepare a Traffic Management Plan for the solar farm in consultation with Roads and Maritime Services and Uralla Shire Council, which will ensure where road upgrades are proposed, they will be completed to the standard expected by the RMS and Council.

And while the Commission acknowledged the Applicant, as part of its lease agreement, is obliged to return the land to suitable agricultural use, it concluded the decommissioning of the solar farm and rehabilitation of the site should be planned appropriately ahead of the cessation of operations. It, therefore, imposed a new condition requiring the Applicant to prepare a Decommissioning and Rehabilitation Plan within three years of commencing operations.