The New South Wales Government has approved the construction of a new solar farm in Wagga Wagga, which is set to provide a major boost to the local economy.
The Bomen Solar Farm is a 120 megawatt (MW) solar farm project near the Bomen industrial hub, approximately 7 kilometres northeast of the Wagga Wagga Central Business District. The project is being developed by Australian renewable energy company, Renew Estate Pty Ltd.
The NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Resource Assessment Director, Clay Preshaw, said the Bomen solar project will be able to power over 30,000 homes and support more than 200 construction jobs over the coming year.
“This project will support hundreds of construction jobs, many that will be sourced locally over the construction period. This is a terrific boost for the local area,” Mr Preshaw explained.
There were nine objections to the proposal from the community, raising concerns about the visual impacts and land use compatibility, however, the Department ultimately decided these issues had been addressed, and that the project is in the public’s best interest.
“We’re seeing billions of dollars of private investment in renewable energy projects right across NSW and millions are now pouring into the Wagga Wagga area,” Mr Preshaw said. “Solar energy is a key part of NSW’s energy mix and will become even more important into the future.”
The project will feature high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) modules mounted on a single-axis tracking array structure. The tracking system will orient the solar modules to follow the sun from east to west each day. The tracking structures will be mounted on piles, which will be screwed or pile driven, eliminating the need for concrete and foundations.
The operational lifetime of the solar farm is expected to be close to 30 years, at which time the site will either be decommissioned or continue to operate (after potentially being refurbished).
More information on the Bomen Solar Farm Project can be found here.
