The New South Wales Government is continuing to build a modern, affordable and secure energy network with the approval of a new $135 million solar facility in West Wyalong.
Executive Director of Energy and Resource Assessments, Mike Young, said the project will generate up to 300 jobs during the construction phase, and provide around 90MW of clean, renewable energy.
“The West Wyalong solar farm will add to the growing hub of solar energy projects in the Riverina, bringing a fresh boost to the economy and diversifying industry in the region,” Mr Young said.
“Since 2017, the government has approved a total 30 solar projects across the state. These have the potential to provide nearly 5,000 construction jobs in the regions and support around $5.8 billion of investment in regional NSW.
“These solar projects have already contributed to the economies of communities throughout the Riverina and are also supporting the creation of a thriving renewable energy industry in New South Wales.”
The project includes a battery storage facility which will store solar energy for dispatch into the grid outside of daylight hours and during periods of peak demand, improving stability and reliability across the network.
“The West Wyalong Solar Farm has the potential to save up to 190,000T of greenhouse gas emissions, reducing New South Wales’ overall emissions and powering more homes with renewable energy,” Mr Young said.
The state-significant project has been assessed in line with the government’s Large-Scale Solar Guideline, introduced in 2018 to ensure clear and consistent guidance to the community and industry.
The project has been approved with strict conditions to ensure the local community and environment are protected, including conditions relating to traffic on local roads, managing construction activities on the site and landscaping to minimise any visual impacts.
