Birriwa Solar Farm, located within the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone in New South Wales, has secured conditional approval from the Australian state’s Independent Planning Commission.
Located approximately 15km south-east of Dunedoo, this project includes a 600MW solar farm and a 600MW/1200 Mega Watt hours battery energy storage system, alongside an on-site accommodation camp.
This solar facility is poised to generate sufficient renewable energy to power more than 229,000 homes.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure finalised a comprehensive government assessment of the Birriwa Solar Farm in May 2024.
The commission is serving as the consenting authority for the project given that over 50 public objections were raised, including one from the Warrumbungle Shire Council.
A three-member commission panel, led by Janett Milligan (chair), with Suellen Fitzgerald and Duncan Marshall, engaged with stakeholders, inspected the site, toured the locality, held a public meeting, and received 65 written community submissions.
Acknowledging community concerns, the commission has imposed several conditions to the consent to address the issues raised.
The conditions for the consent mandate restrictions on the use of certain roads by development vehicles, creation of a soil and water management plan, an emergency plan, and the implementation of vegetation planting for visual screening.
Additionally, the applicant is required to undertake environmental monitoring and management, including the development of an environmental management plan that involves ongoing community consultation.
These conditions are designed to prevent, minimise, or offset adverse environmental impacts, establish standards and performance measures for acceptable environmental performance, mandate regular monitoring and reporting.
With these conditions in place, the panel has resolved to grant development consent to the Birriwa Solar Farm project.
In a statement, the commission said: “It found that the proposed site is consistent with the established strategic planning framework, as it will deliver renewable energy within an established REZ that will contribute to electricity generation in NSW and contribute to the State’s renewable energy transition.”
Earlier in 2024, in NSW, Akaysha Energy closed an A$650m ($438m) deal for the Orana BESS project.
