Seeking input on the community benefit sharing program for the Wattle Creek Energy Hub
We are seeking input from the local community on a benefit sharing program associated with the proposed Wattle Creek Energy Hub, a proposed solar farm and battery energy storage system (BESS) near Marulan, NSW, situated on the University of Sydney’s Arthursleigh property. We have launched a short survey and encourage everyone to have a say!
Based on the proposed solar farm size of 265 megawatts (MW), the funding available would be over $200,000 per year, amounting to around $7 million over the 30+ year construction and operation period of the energy hub.
This funding aligns with the recommended contribution outlined in the NSW Draft Solar Benefit Sharing Guidelines, which suggests $850 per installed megawatt per annum for a solar generation facility.
Following the initial annual payments, all subsequent payments will be adjusted in accordance with the Consumer Price Index, as determined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, to mitigate the effects of inflation.
The funding would be provided on an annual basis, commencing at the start of construction and linked to the final size of the project. The ultimate size of the project will depend on a number of factors, including outcomes of the planning assessment process and subsequent conditions of consent, grid connection approval, detailed design, and project finance.
The aim of the community benefit sharing program will be to deliver long-lasting social, economic and environmental benefits to the local communities we become a part of. At Spark Renewables, we recognise that every local community is different, which is why we take a location-based approach, working with each community to co-design a benefit sharing program that meets the unique needs of that particular location.
Spark Renewables is seeking community views on how the funds should be distributed, specifically between the council projects, neighbouring residents and the broader community.