Two enormous solar farms have been given the green light in Victoria, despite the larger project requiring the clearing of protected native bushland.
The federal government on Tuesday announced that the 250 megawatt Muskerry Solar Power Station and 200MW battery north-east of Bendigo had been approved within just 20 days, after being referred by state authorities due to endangered native vegetation on the farm site.
Then on Wednesday Premier Jacinta Allan revealed the State Electricity Commission (SEC) would invest $370 million to build the SEC Renewable Energy Park in Horsham, which will include a 119MW solar farm and 100MW two-hour battery.
Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek said the Muskerry project had “minimised” environmental impacts, would generate enough energy to power 118,000 homes, and would support 350 construction jobs and 10 ongoing jobs.
The Muskerry project, developed by Edify Energy, will require the removal of 7 hectares of threatened bushland which is listed under the under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Edify will need to compensate for the loss by seeking offset credits, The Bendigo Advertiser reported.
The plant will require about 500,000 solar panels and cover about 400 hectares of agricultural land west of Toolleen, including threatened vegetation in the Grey Box Grassy Woodlands. The project will have an operational life of 50 years, and take 18 months to build.
According to the Victorian government the SEC project at Horsham will generate enough energy to power 51,000 homes, and will start operation in 2027. The project will create 246 jobs in construction, and will have a lifespan of about 30 years.
Opposition energy spokesman David Davis described the project as a “shambles”, saying it would require more government funding in future and asking how it would bring down power prices for Victorians.
The approvals come just weeks after the New South Wales regional hub of Broken Hill was struck by a fortnight of rolling blackouts after a storm knocked down transmission towers and its $650 million wind, solar and battery system was unable to provide backup power.
Header image: Left, an artist’s impression of the SEC plant at Horsham (SEC Victoria). Right, the farm site for the plant at Muskerry (Edify Energy).
