MATES GULLY SOLAR FARM

About the Project

Mates Gully Solar Farm is a proposed solar farm development with a generation capacity of up to 160MW. A containerised battery energy storage system with a capacity of up to 100MW would be built with the solar farm. The solar farm has a potential to power around 90,000 Australian homes per year and offset the emission of more than 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide*.

* Source: Australian Energy Regulator and the Clean Energy Regulator

Overview

Why this site?

There is excellent solar resource with one of the highest irradiance areas in the state, and existing 132kV transmission lines that cross the proposed site to enable connection of the project to the grid.

Technology

The solar farm would consist of ~2x1 metre photovoltaic (PV) panels with a generation capacity of 500-600 watts each. The panels would be mounted on single axis trackers that rotate with the sun.

Firm generation

Batteries provide firm generation ‘on demand’ for the electricity grid. Batteries would store electricity from the solar panels when the sun is at its peak and distribute to the electricity grid at other times of the day.

Jobs & training

Mates Gully Solar Farm is estimated to create around 200 jobs during construction, and up to 5 during the operational life. We would prioritise procurement of goods and services from nearby townships and Aboriginal-owned businesses.

First Nations

Spark Renewables is aligned with commitments to achieving the target of 20% to involve Aboriginal-owned businesses, men and women in the project benefit-sharing initiatives to increase First Nations income and employment opportunities.

Benefit sharing

Long-term, distributed benefits for hosting the Mates Gully Solar Farm would be offered to the community in accordance with the impact on residents on three levels: electricity benefit scheme; community fund; and neighbour agreements.

Planning

The Mates Gully Solar Farm project will be considered a State Significant Development under NSW planning policy. The NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) will assess the proposal and the consent authority will be either the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces or the Independent Planning Commission.

Status

The project is in the early stages of development and must undergo a rigorous planning and assessment process, with extensive community consultation to be undertaken.

Staying informed

Sign up to project updates.
Participate in forums.
Receive phone calls from the team.
Attend public & one-on-one meetings.
Provide feedback via online surveys.

Consultation

All stakeholders and community members are invited to get involved in the consultation process and voice their questions or concerns prior to formal development application to planning authorities.

Social Impact Assessment survey

Let us know your views about the project by completing this survey which feeds into our Social Impact Assessment.

FILL IN SURVEY

Project News

Scoping Report submitted to DPE and next drop-in session on 16 June 2022

Spark Renewables has commenced community consultation for the proposed Mates Gully Solar Farm.

Our first community newsletter of the proposed Mates Gully Solar Farm is here.

Community Consultation Drop-In Session, 16 June 2022
- Download summary handout 'Scoping Report Information: Context, Impacts & Mitigation'
- Download posters (A3 size): Project Overview; Solar Farm & Battery Technology; Project Assessment; Community Engagement; Biodiversity; Landscape, Visual & Heritage; Construction & Operations; Land-Use & Decommissioning
Development Application & Environmental Impact Statement Documents
Virtual Community Meeting Presentation, 22 February 2022
- Download the presentation

Timeline

Initial identification completed, consultation ongoing

Step 1

Project identification

Initial identification completed, consultation ongoing

2022

Step 2

Community Consultation and Preliminary Studies

2022

Early 2023

Step 3

Submission of Development Application and Environmental Impact Statement

Early 2023

2023

Step 4

Development consent

2023

Late 2023

Step 5

Financial investment decision

Late 2023

2024-2025

Step 6

Construction

2024-2025

2025 onwards

Step 7

Operations