Partnership with Macquarie Law School to drive research in Australia’s renewable energy transition
Spark Renewables is thrilled to announce that it has commenced a partnership with Macquarie University to drive research and participation in Australia’s renewable energy transition.
Our Chief Legal Officer Claire Dawson caught up with Macquarie University’s Dr. Madeline Taylor and legal intern Nischala McDonnell to discuss the partnership.
Dr. Madeline Taylor is the Director of Research Training at Macquarie Law School and a Senior Lecturer in Law at Macquarie University. Her research aims to create innovative legal models to facilitate the co-development of renewable energy and agricultural production through agrivoltaics.
Agrivoltaics involves combining solar energy production and agriculture on the same land, which provides benefits including a secondary income stream for farmers with renewable energy projects on their land.
The three-year Fellowship will support research on the energy transition that responds to industry needs. This program will connect researchers, industry, and government to develop the best regulations for agrivoltaics, aiming to improve energy justice.
Nischala McDonnell, a PhD candidate at Macquarie Law School, completed her legal internship with Spark Renewables. We would like to thank Nischala for her contribution in running several projects, including exploring the application of ecovoltaics in Australia and engaging in communication support activities for the Dinawan Energy Hub development.
This partnership is part of our ongoing effort to build our relationships with Australian universities, to work together with some of the best minds from across the nation and play our part in progressing the renewable energy transition in Australia.
This is the news update provided to the community ahead of the public exhibition of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Dinawan Wind Farm from 12 July to 8 August 2024. Find out about the overview of the project, latest news, status of the planning process, and community benefit sharing.
The 2.3 gigawatt (GW) Dinawan Energy Hub (DEH) is a proposed hybrid renewable energy project being developed by Spark Renewables. DEH consists of the Dinawan Wind Farm, and the Dinawan Solar Farm, which would be accompanied by a battery energy storage system.
The DEH is in the South West Renewable Energy Zone, about halfway between Coleambally and Jerilderie near Transgrid’s Dinawan Substation. DEH is proposed on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people and several smaller nations of the Murrumbidgee plains.
Spark Renewables is part of the leading Malaysian energy utility, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, a group of companies owning and operating renewable energy projects in Malaysia, Turkey, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Overview of DEH
The proposed Dinawan Energy Hub would consist of:
Up to 200 wind turbines west of Kidman Way;
A wind farm with capacity of up to 1.2 gigawatts;
Wind turbines up to 280 meters high;
A solar farm with generation capacity of 800 megawatts;
Ground mounted solar photovoltaic modules installed east and west of Kidman Way;
Grid connection of both projects via the Dinawan Substation (Transgrid’s Project EnergyConnect); and
Battery energy storage system capacity of up to 300 megawatts.
Location
Within the NSW South West Renewable Energy Zone
Adjacent to new transmission infrastructure
Close to major transport networks
Distant from most residences
Strong wind resource
The story of ‘Nhaway Buraadja’ (Dhurga language for ‘Today and Tomorrow’)
Spark Renewables has had its ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. We are particularly proud of the artwork created for Spark Renewables by Wodi Wodi and Walbunja artist Lauren Henry and Biripi artist Brittany Cochrane as depicted above.
Can you spot the wind turbines and solar panels? Each element in the artwork layer holds a specific meaning for Spark Renewables.
Through the depiction of people in their yarning circles, wind turbines, solar panels, dinawan (emu) tracks, meeting places and Country, the artwork tells a story of Spark Renewables and its role in up-skilling local community members to provide job opportunities and training to positively impact and give back to community for sharing their knowledge.
The connected yarning circles represent the commitment to continue to grow and remain teachable on cultural safety.
The connected watering holes on the outer layer of the piece represent the flow-on effect of sharing knowledge and commitment to continue on Spark Renewables’ growth journey to better our practices and acknowledge the land we work on as being Aboriginal land.
Yirra Miya artwork created for Spark RenewablesSmoking ceremony during an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment
DEH Pilot Grant Program
Spark Renewables is pleased to announce a Pilot Grant Program designed to provide positive social and environmental outcomes at the local level. Spark Renewables will distribute $20,000 this year to eligible applicants. The Pilot Grant Program seeks to benefit the communities closest to the project, focusing on initiatives within 55km of the proposed project area, which includes Coleambally, Jerilderie and Darlington Point. The funding priorities for the Pilot Grant Program include:
Local infrastructure and services;
Employment or education opportunities;
Community social benefits, inclusion, health and well-being;
Sustainability or enhancing the natural environment;
Heritage preservation, restoration and promotion;
Outdoor recreational activities, sports and clubs;
Art and culture;
Community events and festivals; and
Youth development.
Spark Renewables intends to transition the Pilot Grant Program into an annual community benefits program for the life of the DEH once the project commences construction. The future amount of the community benefits program will be based on the final size of the project. View more information here.
DEH development pathway
Under planning legislation, the Dinawan Wind Farm and the Dinawan Solar Farm are both State Significant Developments, and therefore require an assessment by the NSW Government. Spark Renewables submitted a Development Application (DA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI).
The EIS for the Dinawan Wind Farm is on public exhibition from 12 July to 8 August 2024. The Spark Renewables Team will be hosting public consultation events. We will be on hand to show study results, share project information and answer any questions. The next phase is ‘Response to Submissions’ where Spark Renewables responds to the feedback received during the exhibition period. Visit the NSW Planning Portal here to view the project documents.
Benefits of the project
Direct and indirect economic opportunities for Coleambally, Jerilderie and the surrounding region.
Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to up to 3.2 million tonnes per year.
Up to 600 jobs during construction and up to 50 ongoing jobs.
Clean, renewable electricity, equivalent to powering more than 700,000 homes.
Annual contributions to an industry-leading Community Benefit Fund.
Impact avoidance
Spark Renewables has maximised avoidance of potential impacts by:
Avoiding higher quality native vegetation and threatened species habitat as much as possible.
Protecting significant heritage
values identified in consultation
with First Nations stakeholders.
Introducing setbacks of at least 2 km between neighbouring residences and the closest turbines.
Including an on-site accommodation facility to house
the majority of the project’s construction workforce.
Planning and assessment process
Community benefit fund
Spark Renewables has been consulting with Murrumbidgee Council, Edward River Council and the local community to provide maximum value to the nearby community and local townships. The fund would:
Contribute towards Murrumbidgee
and Edward River Councils’ approved priority developments, including new childcare infrastructure and critical
worker accommodation.
Fund initiatives to share project benefits with the neighbouring community.
Provide annual grants to community projects through a fund administered by a committee of Council with local representatives.
Fund initiatives to share project benefits with local First Nations communities.
The funding would be provided on an annual basis, commencing at the start of construction and linked to the 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, access rights and detailed design. The table below outlines funding commitments for solar and wind projects.
Project is located in the NSW South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) administered by the state-run Energy Corporation (EnergyCo).
Funding is additional to the project-led community-benefit sharing above.
EnergyCo will charge “Access Fees” from projects within the REZ.
Funding would be administered by EnergyCo for initiatives within the region.
Community purposes (e.g., public or community services or infrastructure, health services or infrastructure): $1,700/MW per year Employment purposes (e.g., employment programs and associated services and facilities, skills and training programs and associated services and facilities): $600/MW per year
Subsidised electricity and solar and battery systems
Spark Renewables will fund electricity subsidies to all qualifying neighbours within 10km of the Dinawan Wind Farm. The program is intended to serve as an energy rebate scheme, and payments will start when project construction commences and continue through the life of the project. The subsidy amount will be linked to the distance of neighbours’ legal dwellings to the wind turbines.
Spark Renewables will also provide $5,000 towards solar and BESS systems and energy audits for neighbours within 10km of wind turbines, as well as a $5,000 rebate for audits to baseline on-farm emissions. Key features of the Neighbour Benefits Initiative include:
Available to neighbours within 10km of turbines at time of construction
Voluntary initiative where neighbours can choose to opt-in
Dinawan Wind Farm – Environmental Impact Statement Public Exhibition
The 2.3 gigawatt (GW) Dinawan Energy Hub (DEH) is a proposed hybrid renewable energy project being developed by Spark Renewables. DEH consists of the Dinawan Wind Farm, and the Dinawan Solar Farm accompanied by a battery energy storage system. The DEH is in the South West Renewable Energy Zone, about halfway between Coleambally and Jerilderie near Transgrid’s Dinawan Substation on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people and several smaller nations of the Murrumbidgee plains.
Both the wind farm and solar farm are State Significant Developments to be assessed by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Dinawan Wind Farm has been submitted to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI), and is on public exhibition from Friday 12 July – Thursday 8 August. The next phase is ‘Response to Submissions’ where Spark Renewables responds to the feedback received during the exhibition period.
The Spark Renewables Team will be hosting public consultation events on 23 July – 24 July during the exhibition of the EIS. We will be on hand to show study results, share project information and answer any questions. The location and times are:
Tuesday, 23 July 2024 at 1-3:30pm: Jerilderie Library John Monash Media Room
Wednesday, 24 July 2024 at 3-6:30pm (with a presentation at 5:30pm): Muddy Duck Tapas Bar & Events in Coleambally
Dinawan Solar Farm EIS public exhibition was from 17 November to 15 December 2023; and is currently under assessment by the DPHI.
Spark Renewables is part of the leading Malaysian energy utility, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, a group of companies owning and operating renewable energy projects in Malaysia, Turkey, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Spark Renewables, an Australian developer and long-term owner of renewable energy generation assets developing the Dinawan Energy Hub in the South West Renewable Energy Zone, has announced a $20,000 Pilot Grant Program will be available for communities surrounding our Dinawan Energy Hub this year. This builds on $10,000 of sponsorships already provided to the surrounding community.
The 2.3 gigawatt Dinawan Energy Hub is located approximately 33 km south of Coleambally, NSW, on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people and several smaller nations of the Murrumbidgee plains, and comprises 1,200 megawatts (MW) wind, 800 MW solar, and 300 MW of battery storage.
In order to provide positive social and environmental outcomes at the local level, Spark Renewables will distribute $20,000 this year to eligible applicants. The Pilot Grant Program seeks to benefit the communities closest to the project, focusing on initiatives within 55 km of the proposed project area, which includes Coleambally, Jerilderie or Darlington Point.
The funding priorities for the Pilot Grant Program include:
Local infrastructure and services
Employment or education opportunities
Community social benefits, inclusion, health and well-being
Sustainability or enhance the natural environment
Heritage preservation, restoration and promotion
Outdoor recreational activities, sports and clubs
Art and culture
Community events and festivals
Youth development
Spark Renewables intends to transition the Pilot Grant Program into an annual community benefits program for the life of the Dinawan Energy Hub once the project commences construction. The future amount of the community benefits program will be based on the final size of the project.
“We care about the land we build on, working closely with landowners, local communities and government to develop low-carbon energy projects, whilst also driving positive social and environmental outcomes at a local level,” said Will Stone, Head of Development at Spark Renewables.
Applications are accepted until 15 August 2024 (inclusive).
If you are interested to learn more about the Pilot Grant Program, or would like to apply, please read more here.
Dinawan Solar Farm – Environmental Impact Statement Public Exhibition
17th November 2023
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Spark Renewables’ Dinawan Solar Farm is on public exhibition from 17 November to 15 December 2023. You can view the EIS and make a submission on the NSW planning portal.
There will be a separate EIS for the Dinawan Wind Farm in 2024.
The Spark Renewables Team will be setting up temporary offices in Coleambally and Jerilderie during this period and will be on hand to show study results, share project information and answer any questions.
Spark Renewables is investigating a Community Investment Offering that would allow community members to invest in the Dinawan Energy Hub or a community-owned project within/adjacent to the Dinawan Energy Hub.
The Dinawan Energy Hub is a proposed renewable energy project in the Riverina being developed by Spark Renewables. The proposal includes solar and wind generation, and battery energy storage. For more details visit https://dinawanenergyhub.com/
Spark Renewables is considering several ways for the local host community to benefit from the Dinawan Energy Hub. Through this survey, we would like to hear whether you would be interested in these types of investment opportunities.
The Community Investment Offering under consideration by Spark Renewables would allow community members to share in the benefits of the Dinawan Energy Hub and actively participate in Australia’s transition to clean, emissions free electricity generation. By contributing their own funds as investors, community members would acquire rights to a portion of the earnings of the project.
The purpose of this survey is to determine the level of interest within the community for an investment of this type and to influence the design of this offering. Based on the interest level, Spark Renewables will decide whether to progress with the Community Investment Offering.
The survey will close on 15 December 2023. It should take approximately five minutes to complete.
Any personal details will be treated as confidential in accordance with Spark Renewables’ Privacy Policy, and will not be published or shared with any third parties.
The information you provide will be used to keep you updated on how the Community Investment Offering progresses. However, you will always have the option of opting out of these updates at any time.
Exciting November news: the Dinawan Energy Hub (DEH) is taking shape.
The Dinawan Energy Hub (DEH) is a proposed hybrid wind, solar and battery energy 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. The land is currently used for grazing, which would continue once the project is constructed.
The project is a State Significant Development and will require a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Two separate development applications will be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment: the Dinawan Wind Farm, and the Dinawan Solar Farm. The Scoping Reports can be accessed on the project website at www.dinawanenergyhub.com.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Dinawan Solar Farm is in its final stages of preparation, and we anticipate that it will be made available for public exhibition in late 2023. This exhibition phase is a crucial step in the planning approval and assessment process, providing an opportunity for the community to examine comprehensive project plans and share their feedback by making submissions.
To facilitate engagement and address any queries or concerns, Spark Renewables intends to host community consultation drop-in sessions during the exhibition period. We will promptly announce the details of these sessions once the exhibition dates are confirmed, ensuring an inclusive and transparent process for all stakeholders.
Spark Renewables is holding a series of workshops to exchange ideas with community members on sharing the benefits of renewable energy. This is an open-invitation event to be held at three locations:
This is an open-invitation event to be held at three locations:
Coleambally Community Club, 3 Falcon Road, at 6pm on Tuesday, 22 August 2023
Darlington Point Sports Club, 6 Demamiel Street, at 6pm on Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Jerilderie Civic Hall, Ian Gilbert Room, 33 Jerilderie Street, at 6pm on Thursday, 24 August 2023
There will be a presentation of ideas put forward to date and experience from other projects, followed by an open discussion. Light refreshments will be provided.
If you’re unable to attend the workshops but interested in discussing benefit-sharing, please contact us to set up a meeting or a call via emailing info@dinawanenergyhub.com or leaving a message at 1300 271 419.
Dinawan Energy Hub project Scoping Reports submitted
16 November 2022
The Dinawan Energy Hub is a proposed hybrid wind, solar and battery storage project 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.
The Energy Hub is proposed to be within the NSW South-West Renewable Energy Zone and is developed by Spark Renewables, a leading developer and long-term owner of renewable energy projects.
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. 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 are available vial the following links:
Next, the 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.
If you have any questions or would like to set up a meeting, please contact us at info@dinawanenegyhub.com or leave a message at 1300 271 419.
Project overview
Generation capacity of 1,500 MW (wind farm) and 1,000 MW (solar farm).
‘On demand’ battery energy with a capacity of 300 MW.
Powering up to 1 million homes.
Equivalent to offsetting ~6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually or planting 160,000 eucalyptus trees each year.
Jobs and training: ~1,000 construction jobs and 50-100 operations and maintenance jobs.
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.comor leave a message at 1300 271 419.
