Australia’s federal government has cleared 800 MW of new renewable energy capacity
This will be installed as 350 MW solar with 120 MW BESS project in Queensland by X-Elio
Lightsource bp will go ahead with its 450 MW solar farm in NSW with BESS capacity
The Australian government has approved 2 new solar farms representing a combined capacity of 800 MW, located in Queensland and New South Wales. Together, these are expected to power 351,000 homes when online.
The Sixteen Mile Solar Farm with 350 MW PV capacity will be accompanied by a 120 MW battery energy storage system (BESS). This X-Elio project in Queensland’s Hopeland will require 579,660 solar panels. Its Ecological Assessment Report for March 2024 mentioned the project’s capacity as 420 MW DC/350 MW AC solar and 120 MW/240 MWh BESS capacity. The Spanish company agreed to reduce the layout of the solar farm by 26% to avoid impacting local wildlife habitats, including koalas, grey snakes, and squatter pigeons.
According to the government, this project will generate enough energy to power 160,000 homes.
The Anthony Albanese government has also approved Lightsource bp’s 450 MW Goulburn River Solar Farm in New South Wales (NSW). This project, with 1 million solar panels, will also be accompanied by a BESS in the Upper Hunter region. It will generate enough energy to power 191,000 homes.
It is located between NSW’s Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), and the Hunter-Central Coast REZ. It was cleared by the state government in August this year (see Asia Pacific PV News Snippets: Approval For Lightsource BP’s 450 MW NSW Project & More).
Under the Albanese administration, Australia counts to have approved 63 renewable energy projects over 2 years.
“I’ve ticked off enough renewable energy projects to power the equivalent of more than 7 million Australian homes,” said Australia’s Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek. “That’s enough energy to power every home in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania.”
According to an August 2024 Bloomberg New Energy Finance report, Australia needs to install 290 GW of wind and solar energy capacity to achieve net-zero status by 2050 (see Australia To Need 290 GW Wind & Solar To Achieve Net-Zero By 2050).