Infigen Energy has gained planning approval for a PV based solar farm in Bugendore, New South Wales, not far from the state’s border with the A.C.T.
The planning approval, subject to the conditions of consent, was issued by the New South Wales Department of Planning late last week. If the project should go ahead, the Capital Solar Farm will be situated near Infigen’s Capital Wind Farm – a 140.7MW installation consisting of 67 Suzlon S88 wind turbines.
The Capital Solar Farm will cover 100 hectares and generate up to 50 megawatts of clean electricity using solar panels, enough to to supply the power requirements of 10,000 homes.
According to Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, the facility will consist of more than 160,000 solar modules and given its proximity to the Capital Wind Farm, connecting it to the grid will be cost effective.
Dependent upon funding being granted under the Solar Flagships program, Mr. Whan says the solar farm “will cement the south east region as a leader in renewable energy”.
The news was the second major announcement for Infigen in Australia in the last couple of weeks. Earlier in January, the New South Wales government has given the nod to Infigen Suntech to develop what would be the state’s first commercial solar farm; a 100MW facility at Nyngan. Infigen-Suntech Pty Limited is a consortium comprising Infigen Energy and Suntech Power.
Infigen Energy is Australia’s largest wind power operator and owner, with a totalled installed capacity of 508MW. Globally, Infigen has a total installed capacity in excess of 1,700MW generating 4,200GWh of renewable energy annually; enough for over half a million households.
