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Lightsource bp’s Sandy Creek Solar Farm, located 25km south-west of Dunedoo in NSW's Central West, was declared a non-controlled action by the DCCEEW meaning federal environmental approval is not required.

The 840 MW DC Sandy Creek Solar Farm project is located within the local government areas of Warrumbungle Shire Council and Dubbo Regional Council. Plans include installation of 1.5 million solar panels and a 700 MW / 1400 MWh battery energy storage system on a 1700-hectare site.

The project will connect to the proposed Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone transmission line, and around 600 jobs will be created during construction.

At the last notice Lightsource bp was requested by the state planning authority to prepare an EIS for the Sandy Creek Solar Farm.

Sandy Creek Solar Farm is one of 10 remaining solar and BESS projects under development by Lightsource bp across the eastern states after it sold five utility-scale solar farms to Beijing Energy International Australia for $813mil in December last year.

The deal, which had an equity value of $813m, included a 1037 MW DC solar portfolio comprised of the operating Wellington, West Wyalong and Woolooga projects and the under-construction Wellington North and Wunghnu projects.