Dinawan Energy Hub

Spark Renewables recently welcomed Geoffrey Johnson to our Manly office. Geoffrey is a proud Wiradjuri man, former rugby league football player and mentor to younger generations through the Narrandera Wiradjuri Warriors Rugby League Football Club. 

Our relationship with the Warriors and the wider Narrandera community began in 2023 through our engagement associated with the Dinawan Energy Hub. Since then, it has developed into a valued and ongoing relationship built through time spent together, listening, learning and supporting an organisation that provides young people with role models, mentorship and opportunities to represent their community. 

The relationship also holds a special connection to our much-missed colleague, Shaurntae Lyons, who played an important role in bringing our organisations and communities together. 

Following Shaurntae’s passing in February 2025, the Narrandera Wiradjuri Warriors established the Shaurntae Memorial Team, which includes her sons, to compete at the annual NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout Carnival. 

During his recent visit, Geoffrey presented Spark Renewables with a commemorative jersey in Shaurntae’s honour on behalf of the team. The gesture means a great deal to our team and is a reminder of the relationships Shaurntae built and the lasting influence of her work. 

During her time with Spark Renewables, Shaurntae helped establish many of the principles, guidelines and engagement plans that continue to shape how we work with First Nations communities in the areas where our projects are located. 

Her contribution went well beyond plans and processes. She encouraged us to listen, build relationships before they are needed, understand communities on their own terms and approach engagement with genuine respect. 

We are grateful to the Narrandera community and the Wiradjuri Warriors for the relationship we continue to share, and privileged to see the connections Shaurntae helped establish continue to grow. 

Her influence remains part of the way we work today, through the relationships she formed, the work she shaped and the path she created for those following behind. 

The Dinawan Energy Hub is located approximately halfway between Coleambally and Jerilderie.

Spark Renewables invites local residents, community organisations and local businesses to join us for a community session about the Dinawan Energy Hub Community Benefit Fund:

on Wednesday, 9 September 2026
at the Monash Media Room, Jerilderie
from 3:00 pm to 4:45 pm, including a group discussion from 4:00 pm

on Thursday, 10 September 2026
at the Coleambally Community Club, Coleambally
from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, including a group discussion from 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm

The sessions will provide an opportunity to learn more about the Community Benefit Fund that will form part of the Dinawan Energy Hub, and to help shape how it could support the local area and the surrounding region.

We want to hear from local people and community groups about:

• the community’s priorities, needs and aspirations;
• ideas that could create lasting benefits for Coleambally and Jerilderie;
• local projects and initiatives that may require support;
• how the Community Benefit Fund should operate; and
• how the community would like to remain involved as planning progresses.

We are also keen to hear from local businesses and community organisations interested in supplying goods or services to the Dinawan Energy Hub.

This includes discussing:

• the goods and services that can be provided locally;
• what businesses and organisations may need to become project-ready;
• barriers to tendering for or delivering project work; and
• possible capability-building, training or financial support that may help local suppliers pursue opportunities.

The sessions are informal and intended to gather ideas and understand local needs. Participation does not guarantee funding, employment or a project contract, but the information received will help us develop our approach to community benefits and local participation.

You are welcome to drop in at any time during either session for an informal one-on-one conversation or attend the scheduled group discussions.

We would particularly like to hear from residents, community groups, sporting clubs, service organisations, local businesses, farmers, education and training providers, and others with ideas for the future of Coleambally and Jerilderie.

Please come along, share your ideas and help us understand how the Dinawan Energy Hub can deliver meaningful and lasting benefits for the community.

For further information, please contact Justin Coburn at justin.coburn@sparkrenewables.com.

Spark Renewables welcomes the approval of the Dinawan Solar Farm development application by the NSW Independent Planning Commission, marking a significant step toward delivery of the Dinawan Energy Hub in the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).

The approved project includes an 800 megawatt (MW) solar farm and a 1,574 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS), designed to deliver reliable, firmed renewable energy to the grid.

“This approval is a major milestone for the Dinawan Energy Hub, which will be a hybrid wind, solar and battery storage power hub to support a cleaner, more secure energy system in New South Wales,” said Anthony Marriner, CEO of Spark Renewables.

Supporting energy security and regional development

The Dinawan Solar Farm will contribute to improving grid stability and energy security, while reducing reliance on fossil fuel-based generation.

The Project will also deliver significant economic benefits to the Murrumbidgee region, including the creation of approximately 400 jobs during construction and 10 ongoing operational roles.

Part of the South West Renewable Energy Zone

In April 2025, Spark Renewables was awarded access rights for 1,007 MW in the South West REZ. These access rights authorise projects to apply to connect to the transmission network infrastructure. The Dinawan Energy Hub forms part of the South West REZ, including an allocation of 300 MW of solar generation and 1,200 MW of battery energy storage.

Strong community engagement and investment

Spark Renewables has undertaken extensive consultation and technical studies over more than four years to address community and environmental impacts.

The Dinawan Energy Hub includes benefit sharing and social commitments worth over $90 million, including funding for local and Aboriginal communities, neighbours, and council-led critical projects.

Spark Renewables has developed a program to create upskilling, employment and procurement opportunities, and to co-fund research and innovation programs.

Responsible development

The Dinawan Solar Farm has been approved with comprehensive conditions covering traffic, noise, fire safety, and environmental management. Spark Renewables will continue to work closely with stakeholders to ensure these requirements are met and impacts are minimised.

Next steps

With solar approval now secured, Spark Renewables expects the determination of the Dinawan Wind Farm to follow in the coming month. Together, these projects will enable the full delivery of the Dinawan Energy Hub in the South West REZ.

The Dinawan Solar Farm will now progress through detailed design, grid studies, procurement and compliance with conditions of consent, with financial close anticipated following this next phase.

Prior to construction of the solar farm, development of the Dinawan Energy Hub will include the establishment of the on-site accommodation village and the first stage of the wind farm by late 2027.

Spark Renewables has welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement that the Dinawan Wind Farm and Dinawan Solar Farm, part of the Dinawan Energy Hub, will receive dedicated support through the state’s new Investment Delivery Authority (IDA) to help move the projects from proposal to delivery. 

The NSW Government confirmed that the Dinawan Wind Farm and Dinawan Solar Farm, located in the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), are among 14 major energy projects endorsed through the inaugural round of the IDA process, aimed at accelerating critical energy investment across New South Wales. 

The endorsed projects include a strong pipeline of solar and wind generation and battery storage developments that will help strengthen NSW’s energy security and support the transition to a modern electricity system. 

The IDA was established by the NSW Government to support the delivery of major projects by providing tailored support for complex developments. A dedicated planning assessments team within the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, along with a multi-agency Investment Taskforce in the Premier’s Department, has been formed to help projects progress through planning and delivery more efficiently.

This endorsement does not grant an approval. The Dinawan Solar Farm and Dinawan Wind Farm development applications are under a separate planning assessment and will comply with relevant state and Commonwealth legislation and policies.

This endorsement highlights the critical role that renewable energy projects will play in meeting NSW’s future electricity needs. 

As NSW undergoes a once-in-a-generation transformation of its electricity system, Spark Renewables welcomes the Government’s commitment to working collaboratively with project proponents to remove barriers to investment in the energy transition. 

With growing investment in renewable generation and energy storage, collaborative frameworks like the IDA will play an important role in enabling projects that support regional economies, create jobs and deliver clean energy for the future. 

Spark Renewables remains committed to working with the NSW Government, local communities and industry partners to help deliver the next generation of renewable energy infrastructure across the state. 

Spark Renewables has been advised that, due to lower-than-expected in-person speaker registrations for the previously advertised public meeting for Dinawan Solar Farm, the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has adjusted the format of the consultation. The IPC has confirmed that one-on-one sessions will replace the public meeting to ensure community members who registered to speak continue to have an appropriate forum to do so. All meeting transcripts will be made publicly available on the IPC’s project webpage.

Decisions regarding meeting formats are made independently by the IPC and Spark Renewables had no input into the IPC’s decision on the Dinawan Solar Farm meeting. Community members seeking further information are encouraged to refer directly to the IPC’s official communications via this link.

The opportunity to provide written submissions directly to the IPC for consideration as part of its determination of the Project remains open to all community members and has been extended until 8 March 2026 at 11.59pm. Submissions can be made via the IPC’s project webpage.

Spark Renewables remains committed to open and transparent engagement with all community members and welcomes ongoing dialogue throughout the assessment process. Spark Renewables has provided an overview of the issues raised through the IPC-led consultation process, along with key concerns raised directly with our project team by community groups. The public briefing presentation slides and accompanying transcript that were prepared for the IPC meeting can be accessed here.

Spark Renewables invites expressions of interest for our Dinawan Energy Hub Accommodation Village work package. 

The Dinawan Energy Hub is situated between Coleambally and Jerilderie in the Murrumbidgee Local Government Area, south-west NSW, adjacent to the Dinawan Substation.

The market briefing is available to view here and the market briefing pack can be downloaded here. (Note: the EOI due date has been extended to 16 February 2026 instead of 31 January 2026.)

As part of this package, we are seeking partners to design, supply, install and operate an accommodation village of approximately 400 beds to support the construction workforce. This includes single ensuite rooms, quality dining, and a range of recreational and wellbeing features such as gyms, wellness spaces and social hubs.  

We are looking for innovative approaches that will create an outstanding place to live while contributing to the delivery of the Dinawan Energy Hub. 

The work package will be procured in two parts: 

• Village civil works 

• Village supply, installation and operations 

We are committed on delivering strong social value outcomes for the local community. This includes meaningful opportunities for First Nations businesses and pathways to grow a First Nations workforce across the project. 

Suppliers interested in this work package are invited to register now.

The EOI response period will run until 16 February 2026. Register by emailing Anthony.Fuller@sparkrenewables.com.