Public comment sought for three state significant renewable energy developments in NSW
Published Date : 2024-September-3, Tuesday
The 1-month
EIS exhibition period has started for three large-scale renewable energy
projects across New South Wales, with the public invited to make submissions
about these state significant developments.
Valent
Energy’s Tamworth Battery Energy Storage System, to be located approximately
6km south-east of Tamworth in northern New South Wales, is proposed to consist
of a 200 MW / 400 MWh battery storage project comprised of 68 BESS banks.
The project
also includes 33kV switchrooms, control rooms, a 33/132kV on-site substation,
and an operation and maintenance building.
The
proposed development footprint is about 8.29 hectares with an underground
connection from the on-site substation to TransGrid’s Tamworth Substation, located
170m north of the project site.
The project
is expected to create up to a peak of 100 jobs during construction which will
go for approximately 24 months, inclusive of testing and commissioning.
An EIS for Lightsource
bp’s Sandy Creek Solar Farm, located approximately 25km south-west of Dunedoo
in the Central West of NSW, was also opened for public exhibition.
The project
will have a proposed generation capacity of up to 700 MW AC via a network of
approximately 1.5 million PV panels, plus a battery energy storage system with
a capacity of up to 700 MW AC and up to 2800 MWh storage.
The project
study area covers approximately 1713 hectares, which includes an impact
footprint of approximately 1489ha. The site has historically been used for
cropping and grazing.
Construction
is anticipated to take between 22-28 months requiring a peak FTE workforce of approximately
350, with start targeted for around quarter two of 2026.
Following
surveys and community feedback, ACCIONA has modified its Keri Keri Wind Farm
proposal by refining the initial planned capacity of as much as 1000 MW down to
884 MW via the installation of 155 turbines, modelled on Nordex 5.7 MW units. A
200 MW / 400 MWh BESS is also part of the project.
The project
site covers an operational footprint of 574 hectares on land predominantly used
for agriculture, situated approximately 30km south-east of Balranald in the
Murray River LGA and South West REZ.
Connection
to the grid will be sought on the under-construction Project EnergyConnect
330kV transmission line which intersects the project area.
ACCIONA’s up
to 400 MW Keri Keri Solar Farm will be developed separately.
The EIS for
Keri Keri Wind Farm is open for public comment until 20 June.