Renew Estate wins approval for 120MW solar farm and battery near Wagga Wagga

Emerging renewable energy company Renew Estate says it has been granted planning approval to build 120MW (DC) solar farm – plus 40MWh of battery storage – at a site near the Bomen business park near Wagga Wagga.

Renew Estate expects construction of the Bomen solar farm will begin “shortly” and is expected to be fully operational by this time next year.

“All elements needed for development such as connection, procurement, offtake and financing are well advanced, and we will proceed with construction …shortly, “Renew Estate director Simon Currie said in a statement.

He said the solar farm will play an important role in the development of the business park, where the Wagga Wagga City Council and packaging and logistics giant Visy are looking to build an Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub.

Bomen is the second major project in Renew Estate’s porftolio that has received planning approval, with the other being the 300MW Rodds Bay solar farm near Gladstone in Queensland.

Renew estate is partly owned by Wirsol Energy, another major developer of solar farms in Australia which has interests in the Ganawarra, Hamilton, Whitsunday, Clermont and Wemen solar projects.

“This is an exciting time for the solar industry in Australia and Bomen Solar Farm will assist Wirsol in reaching our target of 1GW of solar generation in Australia,” said  Wirsol managing director Mark Hogan.

Currie said Renew Estate is collaborating with TAFE Wagga Wagga and Charles Sturt University to discuss research roles, internships and scholarship opportunities for its project.