Renew Estate plans 100MW solar farm near Canberra

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.