CleanTech Bites

Renew Estate plans 100MW solar farm near Canberra

Published by

Emerging solar farm developer Renew Estate has unveiled plans for a 100MW (AC) solar farm on the outskirts of Canberra, the latest of a string of project proposals in Queensland and NSW.

Renew Estate on Monday announced it had won approval for a 300MW solar farm near the port city of Gladstone in Queensland, and has now lodged a  development application for the Springdale solar farm on grazing land about 7km north west of Sutton village.

The company will hold information sessions for the $140 million project (it is rated 120MW DC, and 100MW AC) on August 8 where it will present key information from its environmental impact statement.

The solar farm, which will feature tracking technology, will cover around 300 hectares about 3.5kms north of the border with the ACT, which already hosts three small solar farms as part of the territory’s target of sourcing the equivalent of 100 per cent of its electricity needs from renewables by 2020.

“We have shared our vision of how we believe that our project will deliver social and eco- nomic benefits to the community,” Renew Estate director of engagement Rosie King said in a statement.

“These include local jobs and procurement, a $100,000 community fund, the option for the community to invest in the project and the neighbour shared benefit offer for adjoining landowners.”

A community investment scheme will allow members of  the local community to invest in the solar farm and receive returns from the sale of renewable energy.

 

Giles Parkinson is founder and editor-in-chief of Renew Economy, and founder and editor of its EV-focused sister site The Driven. He is the co-host of the weekly Energy Insiders Podcast. Giles has been a journalist for more than 40 years and is a former deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review. You can find him on LinkedIn and on Twitter.

Giles Parkinson

Giles Parkinson is founder and editor-in-chief of Renew Economy, and founder and editor of its EV-focused sister site The Driven. He is the co-host of the weekly Energy Insiders Podcast. Giles has been a journalist for more than 40 years and is a former deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review. You can find him on LinkedIn and on Twitter.

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

Wind and solar generate more electricity in Europe than fossil fuels for first time in 2025

Wind and solar generated a record 30 per cent of EU power needs in 2025,…

15 January 2026

“A price gouging rip off:” Cost of GreenPower certificates have plunged, but retailers still charge huge premium

A collapse in the price of LGCs means consumer GreenPower prices should also plunge this…

15 January 2026

Five million households are paying way too much on their electricity bill

Three quarters of the 6.8 million residential electricity customers in the National Energy Market are…

15 January 2026

NSW pins hopes on solar-battery hybrid projects as it races to meet targets to replace ageing coal

NSW looks to boost support for solar-battery hybrids, as it seeks to ramp up efforts…

15 January 2026

“Tipping petrol on the fire:” World experiences third hottest year in 2025, as fires, floods hit at home

Last year was the world's third warmest on record, underscoring a trend already fuelling destructive…

14 January 2026

German-backed developer has second bite at Gippsland wind project after VCAT rejection

A small wind project in Gippsland seeking planning approval comes with a long backstory that…

14 January 2026