The largest solar farm in NSW officially opened on 16 March, 2023, with Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen onsite to cut the ribbon at the New England Solar project.
Stage 1 of the ACEN Australia project near Uralla – in the NSW Government’s New England Renewable Energy Zone, in the state’s northeast – features close to one million solar panels, and will eventually generate 400MW of power.
Once Stage 2 is complete, a total of 720MW of power will be generated into the National Electricity Market (NEM), making it one of Australia’s largest solar farms.
“The work ACEN Australia is doing to accelerate Australia’s transition to a renewable energy future is here and now, and it starts with New England Solar,” says ACEN Australia CEO Anton Rohner.
“We decided to build New England Solar on a fully merchant basis to ensure it is online in time to help replace closing coalfired power stations in NSW.”
Around 400 workers have been involved in the construction of Stage 1 of the New England Solar project, with 80 per cent coming from the New England region of NSW.
Stage 1 is currently generating 100MW, but will reach its 400MW capacity during the coming months.
Work on Stage 2 will commence in 2024, and once the project is operating at 720MW it will generate enough renewable energy to power 250,000 homes.
News item provided courtesy of Ecogeneration - www.ecogeneration.com.au
