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Utility-scale renewable energy projects are typically defined as those 10 megawatts or larger.  Members of REB research, monitor and discuss options which 'switch' the source of energy used at a 'utility scale' from fossil fuels to renewable energy.    They:
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RESEARCH  and discuss waste to energy projects; solar gardens: utility scale solar farms;  battery storage; micro-grids; pumped hydro & other options.    Kevin Smith is currently our representative on the working group developing the Hume Community Power Hub Project Plan.  Kevin is also researching the viability of Solar Gardens and reporting back to the committee on developments at the Haystacks Solar Garden Project in Grong Grong, NSW.  Recently retired member Adrian Howden researched possibilities such as gasification based waste conversion systems and  'lighthouse' waste to energy projects elsewhere in Australia and  liased with Council staff about the feasibility of establishing a regional waste to energy project in Benalla. 
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MONITOR and disseminate information about local utility scale initiatives - for example:

  • FRV Services - 85MW  Winton Solar Farm (250 hectares /power for 52,000 homes ) is now fully constructed.  On February 9th 2021 the Winton Solar Farm began sending early commencement levels of power to the grid and joined the National Grid in the March quarter 2021 (AEMO).  REB invited FRV to the BSFG general meeting in August 2018, where FRV Development Manager, engineer Avantika Basu,  updated BSFG members  on the project concept, its development approval and expected social and environmental benefits, then answered questions from the audience--find out more.   In December 2020, Renewable Energy Benalla received news of a community grant from the Winton Solar Farm to provide seed funding for a new community energy project involving the establishment of a 'behind the metre' project at local kindergartens.  The completed Munro Avenue Kindergarten  solar panel installation project was  launched by Helen Haines MP on May 6, 2021.  A  further community grant was successfully applied for in November 2021,  providing seed funding for  the Bernard Briggs Kindergarten solar panel installation launched by Helen Haines on February 25, 2022.    For latest Winton Solar Farm community news go to https://wintonsolarfarm.com/news-and-events​​
   
  • ​Lighthouse BP Urbis -   REB members attended the Community Information Drop In and breakfast events with the Lighthouse BP Urbis team in June 2018.  Lighthouse BP's Community Information Pack on the proposed Mokoan Solar Installation  was distributed at this time.  Planning permission was approved by the Benalla Council in December 2018. (Benalla Ensign 12 Dec 2018) for the 15MW (Peak) Mokoan Solar Farm (28 hectares /power for 2330 homes ) 116 Lee Road, Winton   ​A further community information night was held in August 2019 re expansion of project by 30MW to 45 MW/power for 9500 households.  Refer Benalla Ensign 21 August 2019.   Mokoan 2 (30MW) received Ministerial approval in June 2021.    
  • The combined original and expansion site now form the  Mokoan Solar Farm  51MW  (15,386 households) - construction set to begin late 2022.  (information accessed April 22, 2022)    
  • Lighthouse BP is  listing the *West Mokoan Solar Farm - 364 MW - construction set to begin late 2023 - this is an amalgamation of  South Energy's West Mokoan and Kennedy's Creek  solar farms and to be a joint venture with South Energy (refer below)
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  • South Energy - Lighthouse BP Joint Ventures - planning applications for the following Solar Farms were made by South Energy and are now being developed as joint ventures with Lighthouse BP  (refer South Energy website)
  1. 75 MW Goorambat Solar Farm -  (130 hectares for 24,300 households) -  was listed as approved in July 2020.  It is expected to commence construction in 2022 and be fully operational in 2023.  Website:  https://southenergy.com.au/projects/goorambat-solar-farm/​   
  2. 190 MW West Mokoan Solar Farm Proposal* (470 hectares for 68,000 households) -Website:   https://southenergy.com.au/projects/west-mokoan-solar-farm/   The planning permit application for the West Mokoan Solar Farm has been submitted to  DELWP and  relevant authorities, with approval expected in the first half of 2021.  
  3. 145MW Kennedy's Creek Solar Farm Proposal* - (250 hectares hectares for 41,000 households)  - Information evening  was held on June 13, 2019 at the Lake Mokoan Hub  Website:   https://southenergy.com.au/projects/kennedys-creek-solar-farm/  Listed as ' Planning Permit Lodged and process underway' on 16 September 2020, Kennedys Creek Solar Farm received its planning permit from the Victorian Government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) in November 2020.  
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  1. 250 MW Peak  Goorambat East Solar Farm (640 hectares for 105,000 households) has been approved.  Ensign - Dec 19 2019 "Goorambat solar farm given green light by council" Renewable energy company Neoen Australia received planning approval to build a new solar farm in Goorambat in December 2019.
  2. 400 MW Peak Goorambat West Solar Farm  -  'West of Broken Creek - Landowners have signed with Neoen for a potential 400 MW + solar farm'  website accessed 18 August 2020.
 
  • Marble Solar - 100 MW Winton North Solar Farm proposed for Ashdmead Road, Winton North, 4 K west of Glenrowan.  Planning permit application dated March 2020  awaiting ministerial decision.  Our latest information - Marble Solar are planning to start construction in 2024.  Description of proposal  - Use and development of a renewable energy facility (solar farm) and ancillary buildings and works (including battery storage) and removal of native vegetation.   Winton North Solar Farm 's detailed Planning Assessment Report  released on December 20, 2020, is available here.
 
  • Mokoan Solar Project - Winton Wetlands Committee of Management  - 200+MW (800 ha for more than 50,000 households)  Expressions of Interest were received on Friday, July 12 2019.   The project was  then put out to tender - the successful tenderer is  awaiting planning approval.  https://wintonwetlands.org.au/new-solar-project-proposed/ .  Our understanding is that the project is still on the drawing board as at July 2023.
 
  •  Lochard Energy - Winton H2REFUEL Project - 55MW solar farm colocated with a renewable hydrogen production and refueling station to be located just north of Winton. REB members attended  the Loch Ard Community Information Session at the Hub Café on Tue, 4 Apr 2023 and have met with them since.   We will include further detail  here in future, however a good starting point is the H2REFUEL Community Newsletter No. 1, June 2023.  

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  • Esco Pacific - 140MW @ Glenrowan Solar Farm Proposal (245 hectares - 49,000 homes - $150 million) - Wangaratta Council's decision  to refuse Esco Pacific's solar farm application  in  2018  was overturned by VCAT on March 24 2019.  Key permit issues for Victorian solar projects were clarified in this judgement.    
  • On June 1st 2022 developer Esco Pacific announced it had agreed to the sale of the 125MW (dc) Glenrowan solar farm to construction and engineering giant Cimic Group.   Cimic subsidiary, Pacific Partnerships, has ownership of the project, while another Cimic subsidiary, UGL, expects to complete the solar farm by the end of 2023, when operations and renewable energy generation is expected to commence. 
  • In early October 2022 Pacific  Partnerships secured a 10-year power purchase agreement with the state of Victoria in October 2022 for the sale of solar power from the Glenrowan Solar Farm.  Glenrowan Solar Farm was selected as one of six new solar farm projects in the Victorian Renewable Energy Target 2 (VRET2) reverse auction process.  It will generate an installed capacity of 130MWdc / 102MWac.  
  • In mid December 2022 work started at the Glenrowan Solar Farm near Wangaratta to prepare the 245-hectare site for construction next year.  "A small crew is preparing the site, building access and internal roads, installing worker amenities and a laydown area for storage of materials as well as staff parking'.  Find out more -  Media Release 13 December 2023 'Site works  underway at Glenrowan Solar Farm'
Banner Images _FRV Winton Solar Farm in development, 15 August 2020