Spark Renewables

Dinawan Energy Hub – Community Newsletter #2

Dinawan Energy Hub /

Community Newsletter #2

1 November 2022

This is the second community newsletter of the Dinawan Energy Hub (DEH) – a proposed hybrid wind, solar and battery storage project to be located about halfway between Coleambally and Jerilderie on the land of the traditional owners of the Wiradjuri people and several smaller nations of the Murrumbidgee plains.

Located within the South-West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), the project would enable reliable, clean power to be dispatched to the National Electricity Market, offsetting the generation and carbon emission from ageing fossil fuel generators in NSW.

The DEH is being developed by Spark Renewables, a leading developer and long-term owner of renewable energy projects.

Planning Status: Scoping Reports Prepared

Spark Renewables has commissioned consultants to undertake a series of preliminary environmental assessments and prepare two Scoping Reports: one for the proposed wind farm and one for the solar farm with a battery. The Scoping Reports outline the proposed project in more detail and identify important issues that will require further assessment, consultation or technical studies.

The Scoping Reports were submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) and links to the documents can be found here:

DPE will issue its requirements, known as Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs), within 28 days of receiving the Scoping Reports. The SEARs will need to be addressed in a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for each project that will be prepared over the coming year. The community will be consulted further during the EIS preparation and have the opportunity to make a formal submission when the EIS goes on public exhibition.

Please contact us if you wish to be added to our database for future updates.

Community benefits

There will be a range of opportunities for the regional community hosting the DEH project to benefit, including a large community benefit scheme. We have heard different ideas for how the community could benefit, including electricity discount schemes, improved telecommunications, community solar farms, upgraded community club facilities and improved health services. We are keen to hear any ideas from community members as the community benefit scheme is developed. If you wish to have a chat or organise a time to meet, please contact us at info@dinawanenergyhub.com or leave a message at 1300 271 419.

Download the full newsletter here: Dinawan Energy Hub Community Newsletter #2

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Mallee Wind Farm: first community consultation

Mallee Wind Farm /

Mallee Wind Farm: first community consultation a success

24 August 2022

Spark Renewables has held its first community drop-in session for the proposed Mallee Wind Farm, announced in early August 2022.

The drop-in session was held on Tuesday, 23 August at the Midway Centre near Buronga.

The three-hour drop-in session was open for all community members to come by and meet with the Spark Renewables development team, read information posters about the proposed project, look at the investigation area on a map, and provide feedback on the proposal, both verbally and via a survey.

Julian Kasby, Senior Development Manager at Spark Renewables, said:

“It was fantastic to be in Buronga and meet so the local community.

“We were pleased to be able to hear the insights and questions from over 20 local community members who attended. We were also able to connect with local service providers and individuals who are interested in being a part of the project either through our planned local employment program, or through opportunities to provide goods and services during the construction and operational phases of the project,” Mr Kasby said.

Feedback on the proposed project was largely positive. Community members in attendance were most interested in understanding the size of the project, the technology that will power the proposed wind farm, and how Spark Renewables will mitigate some of the potential issues that may arise as part of the project, such as visual and noise amenity impacts, and impacts to native flora and fauna. The Spark Renewables team were also asked questions on decommissioning and site rehabilitation.

During the drop-in session and through the completed community surveys, helpful suggestions were made by the community on potential benefit-sharing opportunities, including:

  • Local sourcing of services, materials and labour;
  • Local community groups and clubs that would benefit from an annual community fund; and
  • Improved communications and road upgrades along Arumpo Road.

Materials displayed at the consultation session are available here:

Survey remains open for feedback via this link.

Mallee Wind Farm community consultation drop-in session, 23 August 2022
Over 20 people attended the drop-in session in Buronga
Community members provided feedback and suggestions verbally and via a survey

ENDS

Contact:
Julian Kasby
M: 0411 638 651
E: julian.kasby@sparkrenewables.com

About Spark Renewables

Spark Renewables is a leading developer and long-term owner and operator of renewable energy generation assets. Our operational portfolio comprises the 100 MW Bomen Solar Farm near Wagga Wagga, contracted to Westpac and Flow Power, which commenced operations in 2020. Our large development portfolio includes wind, solar and storage projects in the National Electricity Market.

Spark Renewables is owned by the Spark Infrastructure Group – an owner of critical energy infrastructure, including generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure across Australia.

Spark Renewables is a member of the Clean Energy Council (CEC) and a signatory to the CEC’s Best Practice Charter for Renewable Energy Developments.

Mallee Wind Farm: first community consultation Read More »

Spark Renewables announces proposed Mallee Wind Farm and launches community consultation

Mallee Wind Farm, Spark Renewables /

Spark Renewables announces proposed Mallee Wind Farm and launches community consultation

11 August 2022

Leading renewable energy developer and operator, Spark Renewables, has announced plans to develop the Mallee Wind Farm in the South-West Renewable Energy Zone of New South Wales.

The proposed wind farm would be located approximately 16 kilometres to the north-east of Buronga in Wentworth Shire and would have a generation capacity of up to 1 gigawatt (GW), providing enough renewable electricity to power 450,000 Australian homes on average, over the course of a year*.

The proposed wind farm, which would also feature a containerised battery energy storage system, would offset up to 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually**. The project would connect to the National Electricity Market via transmission infrastructure upgraded as part of Project EnergyConnect.

The project will be classified a State Significant Development and will undergo a rigorous planning and assessment process, with comprehensive stakeholder and community consultation required as part of this process.

The first community drop-in session will be held from 3pm-6pm on Tuesday, 23 August 2022 at the Midway Centre, 6 Midway Drive, Buronga. Community members will be able to talk to the Spark Renewables team to learn more about the project and provide initial feedback.

Anthony Marriner, Head of Spark Renewables, said: “We are excited to announce the Mallee Wind Farm project, which is expected to bring significant benefits to the local community and region in the form of jobs and investment, as well as funding for local community initiatives through a community fund that would be established for the life of the project.

“The proposed site for the Mallee Wind Farm has been chosen as it has a number of highly favourable factors, including a strong wind resource, good location within the South-West Renewable Energy Zone in New South Wales, and the very low density of housing within 10 kilometres,” said Marriner.

“Additionally, the proposed site features a flat terrain, meaning that complex earthworks would be avoided during construction, and the site can continue to be used for grazing and cropping purposes, with turbines taking up less than two percent of the proposed project site.” 

“Spark Renewables is committed to supporting the local communities we become a part of. Our track record of engaging authentically with, and delivering strong benefits to, the local community whilst minimising disruption, is important to us. This includes our commitment to engaging with First Nations community members and businesses throughout the project consultation, construction and operation phases. To help us keep delivering on these commitments, we strongly encourage local community members to participate in community consultation where they can, and to ask questions and provide feedback to our team,” said Marriner.

For more information, read the Mallee Wind Farm project community newsletter here. The Spark Renewables team can also be reached on 1300 271 419.

*based on household consumption of 6,700 kWh/year
**based on National Greenhouse Account Factors (DCCEEW, 2021)

ENDS

Contact:

Julian Kasby
M: 0411 638 651
E:  julian.kasby@stage.sparkrenewables.com  

Download the full media release here.

Spark Renewables announces proposed Mallee Wind Farm and launches community consultation Read More »

Spark Renewables Participates in PV Industries’ Circular Solar Trial

Bomen Solar Farm, Spark Renewables /

Spark Renewables Participates in PV Industries’ Circular Solar Trial

20 April 2022

A project funded by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority

Spark Renewables is proud to announce its participation in the Circular Solar Trial, conducted by a leading solar panel recycling and resource recovery company in Australia, PV Industries.

The project brings together a collaborative and industry-led approach to develop solar panel recycling and end-of-life solutions for the solar and lithium-ion battery economies.

This project has been funded under the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) Circular Solar grants program. The EPA is supporting this project through its Circular Solar Grants Program with funding of $997,969.

Circular Solar Trial project outcomes

  • Develop a novel solar panel recycling process for use in NSW by PV Industries.
  • Establish a metro and regional collection and logistics network in partnership with local government and Greentech Sydney.
  • Activate end-markets for recovered solar panel glass in partnership with University of New South Wales’ School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and John Holland.
  • Enable future opportunities for solar panel reuse, in partnership with UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering.
  • Improved procedures for safe handling and transport of lithium-ion batteries, in partnership with Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.
  • Assessment of the solar industry to identify solar panel recycling market challenges and opportunities, in partnership with University of Technology Sydney’s Institute for Sustainable Futures, NSW Circular, Maoneng and Spark Renewables.

The project, which commenced in early 2021, will improve safe handling and transport procedures, establish a collection and logistics network for urban and regional NSW, optimise solar panel recycling and processing techniques, develop new end-markets for recovered materials and enable future market opportunities for reuse.

Spark Renewables: Knowledge is power

Spark Renewables is excited to partner with PV Industries in its project to develop a resource recovery and recycling solution.

“There is a sense of rising community concern over what happens with solar modules after they are no longer useable on-site, and we are deeply committed to finding sustainable end-of-life solutions for these modules,” said Anthony Marriner, Head of Spark Renewables.

“Through its partnership with PV Industries, Spark Renewables will provide data from the Bomen Solar Farm to the UTS and will allow UNSW to use Bomen Solar Farm as a testing ground for its Solar Panel Triage Unit technology,” explained Mr Marriner.

“We look forward to the industry and the broader community reaping the benefits of this project, and ones like it, by increasing diversion of solar panel waste from landfill, stimulating economic activity, and promoting a safe and sustainable circular solar economy in NSW.”

“The EPA’s Circular Solar Grants program is directly focused on finding solutions to the emerging solar panel waste stream,” said Kristie Brown, Director of Circular Economy Programs, NSW EPA.

“It’s a program that supports the type of trials proposed by PV Industries – collaborative ‘whole of supply chain’ projects that provide innovative solutions to manage end-of-life solar panels and battery systems. It’s all part of building the circular economy of the future in NSW.”

Read the full media release by PV Industries and NSW EPA.

This program was made possible thanks to funding from the NSW EPA’s Circular Solar grants program.

ENDS

Contact:
Will Stone, Head of Development
M: +61 468 745 736
E:  will.stone@stage.sparkrenewables.com

About Spark Renewables

Spark Renewables is a leading developer and long-term owner and operator of renewable energy generation assets. Our operational portfolio comprises the 100MW Bomen Solar Farm near Wagga Wagga which commenced operations in 2020. Our development portfolio includes wind, solar and storage projects in the National Electricity Market.

Spark Renewables is owned by the Spark Infrastructure Group – an owner of leading essential energy infrastructure, including generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure across Australia.

Spark Renewables is a member of the Clean Energy Council (CEC) and a signatory to the CEC’s Best Practice Charter for Renewable Energy Developments.

About PV Industries

PV Industries is leading solar panel recycling and resource recovery in Australia. They have facilities in Sydney and Melbourne while they continue to expand their collection and logistics network. They offer services for collection, logistics, recycling and resource recovery of solar panels and associated solar equipment. PV Industries is a member of the Australian Photovoltaic Institute. For more information on PV Industries: www.pvindustries.com.au

About NSW EPA The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is the primary environmental regulator for New South Wales. They partner with business, government and the community to reduce pollution and waste, protect human health, and prevent degradation of the environment. For more information, visit www.epa.nsw.gov.au

Download Media Release: Spark Renewables Participates in PV Industries’ Circular Solar Trial

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