Community Newsletter #7 – January 2026

Download the PDF newsletter here: Dinawan Energy Hub – Community Newsletter #7 – January 2026 

The Dinawan Energy Hub (DEH) is a hybrid renewable energy project consisting of the Dinawan Wind Farm, and the Dinawan Solar Farm, which is accompanied by a battery energy storage system. It is located about halfway between Coleambally and Jerilderie near Transgrid’s Dinawan Substation.

Project components as allocated by EnergyCo under access rights include: 

707 MW wind farm (Stages 1 & 2) with 105 wind turbines (up to 250-metre tip height), west of Kidman Way 
Solar component of DEH: 300 MW solar farm, with 750,000 solar modules installed east and west of Kidman Way 
300 MW solar farm, with 750,000 solar modules installed east and west of Kidman Way 
BESS component of DEH: 300 MW BESS, providing up to 1,200 MWh of storage 
300 MW BESS, providing up to 1,200 MWh of storage 

Recent updates

  • In April 2025, Spark Renewables was awarded access rights for 1,007 MW in the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), which authorises projects to apply to connect to the transmission network infrastructure.
  • In October 2025, the Dinawan Wind Farm (Stage 1) bid was successful in Tender 4 of the Australian Government’s Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS).
  • In December 2025, the NSW DPHI recommended conditions of consent for approving the Dinawan Solar Farm Development Application. Speaker registrations for the public meeting in Coleambally close at 12pm. Register to speak through this page.

Community benefit sharing & social commitments

Spark Renewables is committed to creating upskilling, employment and procurement opportunities and co-funding research and innovation programs.

Access fee contributions will be administered by the NSW Energy Corporation (EnergyCo)

Since development of the DEH began, Spark Renewables has contributed $126,700 to local funding and sponsorships, and $35 million of additional South West REZ access fee contributions are expected to be paid over the first 15 years of the project’s lifespan.

Voluntary Planning Agreement

Spark Renewables will enter into a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) with Murrumbidgee Council. For the projects being built under the allocation of access rights – 707 MW for the wind farm and 300 MW for the solar farm – this represents an average of a $1 million payment each year to be shared across:

  • Council’s Critical Capital Projects (70%)
  • Community Benefit Fund (15%)
  • Aboriginal Community Fund (7.5%)
  • Neighbour Benefit Fund (7.5%), which includes the Dinawan Wind Farm Electricity Rebate Scheme (ERS)

Spark Renewables has launched the ERS as part of the Dinawan Neighbour Benefit Program for eligible households near the Dinawan Wind Farm. Households within 10 km of the wind turbines can receive annual electricity rebates between $2,500 and $10,000 for the wind farm’s 35-year lifespan, based on distance from the nearest wind turbine. Spark Renewables is currently engaging with the local landholders to propose an extended ERS for the Dinawan Solar Farm. Read more here.

Submissions for Dinawan Solar Farm Development Application review by the IPC close on 5 March 2026

Under NSW planning legislation, the Dinawan Wind Farm and Solar Farm are both State Significant Developments and therefore require an assessment by the NSW Government. In response to the Development Application (DA) for Dinawan Solar Farm, the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) has recommended conditions of consent to manage potential impacts on the local area. We expect recommended conditions for the Dinawan Wind Farm to follow in the first quarter of 2026.

You can read the referral letter, assessment report, and recommended conditions of consent on the NSW Independent Planning Commission’s (IPC) website by visiting this page. In line with the IPC’s consultation timeline for Dinawan Solar Farm, written public submissions and registration to speak at the project’s public meeting are open until 17 February 2026 (closing at noon).

  • 27 February 2026: A public meeting will be held at Coleambally Community Hall at 10am. You can pre-register to speak at the event here.
  • 5 March 2026: Submissions for the Dinawan Solar Farm project can be made until 11.59pm.

Expressions of interest open for the Accommodation Village until 16 February 2026

We are seeking partners to design, supply, install and operate an accommodation village to support the construction workforce. We are looking for innovative approaches that will create an outstanding place to live while contributing to the delivery of the DEH. Find out more here.

To see all work packages available for Dinawan Wind Farm (Stage 1), visit the ICN Gateway here.