Upload
others
View
2
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
FACT SHEET
GUNNEDAH SOLAR FARMOrange Grove Road
Estimated capacity: 165 MWp Power for equivalent of 49,000 homes Annual CO2 savings: 236,302 tonnes
The locationThe proposed solar farm is approximately 9km from Gunnedah, on the Orange Grove Road.
The planned solar area is 203 hectares within a 692 hectare farm, which is currently used for cropping. The remaining land will continue its existing agricultural use. This combined land use has been highly successful around the world, including other Photon Energy solar farms.
The 203 hectares of land is much smaller than the average farm size in NSW and will continue to serve as agricultural land with good land management practices.
Energy generation and capacityThe Gunnedah Solar Farm will generate 293,000 GWh of clean, renewable energy per annum. That’s enough energy for close to 49,000 households – approximately ten times the number of homes in the Gunnedah Shire. Photovoltaic Solar is now recognised as the cheapest form of energy generation and this solar farm will also help reduce the cost of electricity in NSW by increasing supply. Gunnedah Solar Farm is one of the first in Australia to be developed without government subsidy and is a fully commercial operation.
Community benefitsThis solar farm will create approximately 100 jobs during construction and support up to ten jobs during operation. Photon Energy is committed to employing locally wherever possible. This project will help develop experience in skilled electrical trades and best practices for combined land use solar farming.
Photon Energy solar farmsDrawing on a team with over ten years of global solar farm experience, Photon Energy is one of Australia’s leading solar farm designers and managers. The company has installed major Australian commercial solar systems and European solar farms. The Photon Energy team in NSW is currently completing a new solar farm in Leeton.
Estimated project approval timeline
SEP 2017
NOV 2017
NOV 2017 to
MAR 2018
APR 2018 to
MAY 2018
JUN 2018 to
JUL 2018
JAN 2017 to
MAR 2018
MAY 2018 to
JUN 2018
SEP 2018
Feasibility Secretary’s Environment Assessment Requirements (SEARs) issued by Department of Planning and Environment.
AssessmentIf required, the development will be referred to the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC). If the PAC is not required, DP&E will complete their assessment. DP&E will complete their assessment and provide a Determination for the development.
Prepare Development Application Site visits conducted by the environmental specialists. Engagement with the community and stakeholders.
Public Exhibition DP&E will place Gunnedah Solar Farm’s application on public exhibition for approximately four weeks. Community members have the opportunity to submit feedback to the DP&E on the project.
Feasibility Advise the community about the proposed solar farm and start community discussion.
DeterminationThe DP&E (or, if applicable, the PAC) will
announce their decision. There may be conditions included to mitigate and address
issues raised by the community.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) The environmental specialists prepare reports
as inputs into the EIS. The EIS considers all of the specialists’ studies and assesses the
potential impact of the development. The EIS is drafted and submitted to NSW Department
Planning and Environment (DP&E) for review.
Gunnedah Solar Farm responds to submissions
A Submission Report will be prepared after the exhibition period. The report will
address feedback received during the public exhibition.
Email: [email protected]: www.photonenergy.com.au/current-projects/gunnedah/
Phone: 1300 881 045
2 km
Oxley Highway
Orange Grove Road
Namoi River
Gunnedah
Solar FarmFootprint
MAP OF THE GUNNEDAH SOLAR FARM 9KM FROM GUNNEDAH