Neoen set to launch Thunderbolt wind project, despite Joyce campaign in heart of New England

Neoen has locked in the final piece of planning for its proposed Thunderbolt wind farm in New South Wales (NSW), after securing federal approval for the 192 MW, $373 million project.

The project will now be just a wind farm, after the French developer killed off a 120 megawatt (MW) solar component late in 2022 on the grounds of falling prices for solar in the state. The original plan also included a 400 MW battery with multiple hours of storage.

The EPBC approval for the wind arm is the final major piece of the planning process, after Neoen secured NSW approvals in May. 

The state process took Thunderbolt all the way through to the NSW Independent Planning Commission after strong opposition  from members of the local New England community.

The project is east of Tamworth, the stomping ground of anti renewable energy campaigner and Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce. It will be within the New England renewable energy zone (REZ).

Joyce has described wind turbines as “filth” and is encouraging a movement of people to oppose any and all renewables developments – even when they live nowhere near the project in question.

Thunderbolt was approved earlier in 2024 by the state planning department, but automatically sent over to the IPC after more than 50 objections, including from two local councils.

The IPC said the approval was subject to a number of conditions, including a maximum tip height of 260 kms, vegetation screening for all households within 5.1 kilometres, and major road upgrades.

The EPBC approval sets conditions on how much koala, white-throated needletail and spotted-tailed quoll habitat can be cleared, but generally approved the final detail set by the IPC. 

The final layout is for 32 turbines arrayed over two properties with a maximum tip height of 260m. 

To win over neighbours, Neoen created a neighbour benefit-sharing scheme with annual payments for households within 3.5km, and  last year it increased the community benefit fund payment to $160,000 a year from $100,000, shared equally between the Tamworth and Uralla councils.