Dinawan Energy Hub
A hybrid wind, solar and battery storage energy hub in the South West Renewable Energy Zone would enable reliable, clean power to be dispatched to the National Electricity Market, offsetting electricity generation and carbon emission from ageing fossil fuel generators in New South Wales.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The proposed ~2 gigawatt (GW) Dinawan Energy Hub would create more than 1,200 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. The project includes a battery energy storage system co-located with the solar farm.
Latest updates
- The 800 megawatt (MW) Dinawan Solar Farm with a 1,574 megawatt-hour (MWh) hybrid battery energy storage system (BESS) development application was approved by the NSW Independent Planning Commission (April 2026).
- The Dinawan Wind Farm (stage one) bid for 357 MW was successful in Tender 4 of the Australian Government’s Capacity Investment Scheme (October 2025).
- Spark Renewables was awarded access rights for 1,007 MW in the South West Renewable Energy Zone in New South Wales, authorising the project to apply to connect to the transmission network infrastructure (April 2025).
Proposed
Capacity
Wind farm: ~1,200 MW
Solar farm: ~800 MW (alternating current)
BESS: ~1,574 MWh
Investigation
area
~43,324 hectares
Houses
powered
~1 million annually*
Greenhouse gas emissions
Offset
~4.7 million tonnes of CO₂ annually**
LOCATION
Dinawan Energy Hub is located in the Riverina region about halfway between Coleambally and Jerilderie in the New South Wales South West Renewable Energy Zone, and on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people and several smaller nations of the Murrumbidgee plains.
The investigation area was designed to avoid woodland areas of weeping myall (boree), 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.
Sharing the benefits of the Dinawan Energy Hub
Spark Renewables is committed to creating lasting benefits in the communities where our projects are developed. Our benefit sharing programs support community benefit sharing, local economic development, workforce capability, education and training, and research and innovation.
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Employment and apprenticeship opportunities: stage one of the Dinawan WInd Farm
Setting clear, measurable goals allows us to track progress, identify where additional effort or resources may be needed, and understand the positive impact our projects are making. During the development and construction of stage one of the Dinawan Wind Farm, we have committed to achieving the following workforce targets:
Delivering long-term benefits for local communities
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Our focus is to create lasting, positive change that supports the needs of each community and future local employment by establishing a community benefit sharing program for the life of the Dinawan Energy Hub.
Community funding
The Dinawan Energy Hub will provide over $34 million in direct community funding through a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) with local councils, and separate community funds supporting local priorities, neighbours and First Nations people.
Supporting domestic clean energy and technology supply chains
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Local procurement creates stronger social value when smaller businesses can realistically participate. More than $26 million will support the delivery of targeted local work packages, capability-building initiatives, and research and innovation programs across the Dinawan Energy Hub.
Commitments to sourcing local content during stage one of the Dinawan Wind Farm
This includes delivering civil works, logistics, turbine erection and commissioning support, balance of plant, accommodation and project services.
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First Nations Partnership for training and workforce development
$0 million
with 85% spent in the first five years of each project stage
Achieving First Nations participation requires more than passing targets on to contractors. Structural barriers and varying contractor capability can make it difficult to recruit workers. Our approach is deliberate, culturally informed and locally grounded with partnerships focussed on mentoring, employing and retaining First Nations workers over the long term.
First Nations participation targets: stage one of the Dinawan Wind Farm
Spark Renewables is committed to engaging First Nations-owned businesses and employees in its renewable energy projects wherever possible. We measure the impact on local employment and investment at our projects.
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Percentage of First Nations workers during development0%
Percentage of First Nations workers during construction0%
Percentage of First Nations workers during operations$0M
Procurement during development, construction & operations0%
Target for project employees to complete cultural competency trainingPartnership approach
The partnership approach, working with established Aboriginal organisations will address common barriers to First Nations employment and retention, with support linked to work packages, contractor requirements and reporting. During stage one of the Dinawan Wind Farm, a contribution of $972,967 across ten commitments will support attracting, developing, and retaining First Nations workers - providing them with the tools and support to build a long-term career. It will also support cultural activities throughout the life of the project, including events such as NAIDOC celebrations and smoking ceremonies at key project milestones.
PLANNING & CONSULTATION
Project status: Dinawan Solar Farm approved and Dinawan Wind Farm's Response to Submissions under assessment by the DPHI
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 (IPC).
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. The Response to Submissions was completed and submitted in September 2024 followed by a Recommendation (subject to Conditions of Consent) that was made by the DPHI in December 2025. The Dinawan Solar Farm received approval in April 2026.
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.
TIMELINE
Step 1 - complete
Project identification ✔
2021-2022
Step 2 - complete
Initiate community consultation and preliminary studies ✔
2023
Step 3 - complete
Environmental Impact Statement ✔
2024-2026
Step 4 - in progress
Access rights - Dinawan Wind Farm & Dinawan Solar Farm ✔
Capacity Investment Scheme (Tender 4) - Dinawan Wind Farm (stage one) ✔
Planning: Dinawan Solar Farm approved ✔
Dinawan Wind Farm under assessment in progress
2026-2027
Step 5
Final investment decision
2027-2029
Step 6
Construction
2029 onwards
Step 7
Operations