Dinawan Energy Hub
ABOUT THE PROJECT
A hybrid wind, solar and battery storage energy hub 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 Dinawan Energy Hub is a ~2 gigawatt (GW) proposed hybrid wind, solar and storage project located in the Riverina region in New South Wales, in the heart of the South-West Renewable Energy Zone and on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people and several smaller nations of the Murrumbidgee plains.
The proposed Energy Hub would create more than 1,000 jobs during construction, and would have up to 200 wind turbines and 1.7 million solar modules, potentially providing enough clean, reliable energy to power over a million Australian homes annually.
Status:
Development assessment
Houses powered annually:
~ 1 million*
Emission offset annually:
~ 4.7 million tonnes CO₂**
Location:
Riverina, NSW
Traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people and several smaller nations of the Murrumbidgee plains
*Based on household consumption of 6MWh per annum
** Based on capacity of 2 GW and emission factor of 0.77 tCO2e
Generation capacity:
Wind farm: ~1.2 gigawatts
Solar farm: ~800 megawatts (alternate current)
Battery energy storage:
~300 megawatts
(or 600MWh over 2 hours)
Investigation area:
43,324 hectares
Generation units:
~ Up to 200 wind turbines
~ Up to 1.7 million solar modules
Developer
LOCATION
Dinawan Energy Hub is located about halfway between Coleambally and Jerilderie on the land of the traditional owners of Wiradjuri people and several smaller nations of the Murrumbidgee plains in the NSW South-West Renewable Energy Zone.
The investigation area was prepared to avoid woodlands of the weeping myall (boree) woodland, which is a protected species. The investigation area for the wind farm is 38,824 hectares with the overall wind farm footprint expected to be 1-2% of this area, and the investigation area for the solar farm is 4,500 hectares.
The project is on the route of the EnergyConnect interconnector, which will run between Robertstown, South Australia and Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The project is strategically positioned to support the network as well as the proposed HumeLink and VNI West interconnectors.
OUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY
Sharing the benefits of the Dinawan Energy Hub
Spark Renewables proudly supports the communities where our projects are developed. Our focus is to create lasting, positive change that supports the needs of each community.
In order to start sharing benefits of the project with the hosting community, Spark Renewables is providing $20,000 of grants to community projects through a Pilot Grant Program in 2024. This builds on $10,000 of sponsorships already provided to the surrounding community. 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.
Spark Renewables seeks to share the benefits of the Dinawan Energy Hub and foster community collaboration with communities closest to the project during development – focusing on initiatives that benefit the areas within 55 kilometres of the proposed project area, which includes Coleambally, Jerilderie or Darlington Point. Read more here.
PLANNING & CONSULTATION
Project status: response to EIS submissions
The proposed Dinawan Energy Hub is considered State Significant Development under NSW planning legislation. The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) will assess the development application documents and the consent authority will be the Minister for Planning or the Independent Planning Commission.
Scoping Reports for the Dinawan Solar Farm and for the Dinawan Wind Farm were lodged with the DPHI in November 2022. The Scoping Reports outline the proposed project in more detail and identify important issues that will require further assessment, consultation and technical studies. The DPHI issued its requirements, known as Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) on 14 December 2022. The SEARs are addressed in a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for each project. These documents can be viewed on the DPHI Major Projects website by searching for "Dinawan Solar Farm" and "Dinawan Wind Farm".
The EIS for the Dinawan Solar Farm was submitted in November 2023 and was on public exhibition in December 2023. The 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. Response to Submissions was completed and submitted in September 2024
Formal NSW planning process
Community consultation
As part of the planning and development process, we are undertaking extensive consultation with the community, stakeholders and Traditional Custodians of the land. The consultation will take place via community drop-in sessions, community briefings, surveys, one-on-one meetings, newsletters, our project website, and social media. We encourage all stakeholders and community members to get involved. Find out more and have your say:
- Sign up to newsletters.
- Request a one-on-one meeting or call.
- Provide feedback via surveys.
OUR APPROACH: SUPPORTING FARMERS & THE LOCAL ECONOMY
TIMELINE
Step 1 - complete
Project identification ✔
2021-2022
Step 2 - complete
Initiate community consultation and preliminary studies ✔
2023
Step 3 - complete
Environmental Impact Statement ✔
2024
Step 4 - in progress
Development assessment & consent
2025/2026
Step 5
Final investment decision
2025-2026
Step 6
Construction
2027 onwards
Step 7
Operations