Red Sky Energy recently announced the completion of a positive feasibility study for its SOLIER Dubbo Solar One project in New South Wales.
The proposed $4.4m project consists of a 2.5MW solar farm. Polycrystalline solar panels will be used for the facility; mounted as fixed systems. The first panels are expected to be installed by the middle of this year.
Red Sky Energy says the operating costs of the plant will be low; initially $37,000 a year, then increasing to $67,000 annually in later years when the station’s inverters are scheduled for replacement. The project is expected to have a 35 year lifespan.
25 hectares has been acquired for the project under a 30 year lease from Dubbo City Council, but the Dubbo Solar One power station will only require 5 hectares. The remainder could possibly accommodate an expanded project of up to 12MW in the future.
Red Sky Energy acquired SOLEIR Limited in November last year. At that point in time, SOLEIR had identified several other possible project sites in regional New South Wales and said it would be pursuing a further 20MW tranche of projects to be progressed in parallel with the development of the Dubbo project.
Dubbo has significant solar resources; receiving 15% more solar radiation than Sydney and 6% more than Byron Bay says the company.
Dubbo has also enjoyed strong residential solar uptake in recent years; with rooftop solar panel systems now installed on 28% of houses in the area.
Recently released figures indicate that as at March 10 this year, the 2830 postcode region was home to 3,675 installed PV systems; making it the number one solar postcode in New South Wales.
According to solar provider Energy Matters, a 5kW solar panel system installed in the Dubbo area can provide a financial benefit exceeding $2,000 a year, depending on electricity consumption profile.
