The Plains Solar Farm would comprise the development of a 400 megawatt peak solar farm and 400-megawatt / 1.6-gigawatt hour Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), located within the Plains Renewable Energy Park within the NSW South-West Renewable Energy Zone.
Project infrastructure construction features would include:
- 900,900 panels of solar arrays, with a generating capacity of 400 megawatts
- a 400-megawatt / 1.6-gigawatt hour BESS
- power station
- electrical reticulation network
- access roads, and
- infrastructure for ancillary activties including construction compound, temporary laydown areas and O&M building.
Key Dates
| Nov 2022 | Project Announcement |
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | ENGIE |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Nov 2022 | The NSW Department of Planning and Environment published ENGIE's Request for the Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements and Scoping Report for the Plains Solar Farm, a component of the Plains Renewable Energy Park. |
| Dec 2022 | The NSW Department of Planning and Environment Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements were issued for the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement of the project. |
| May 2024 | The project's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was published and the project placed on exhibition, closing 4 June. The EIS indicated a revised proposal of a 400 MW solar farm, reduced from 500 MW. |
| Apr 2025 | The project proponent formally withdrew their application for the solar farm development citing advice from the Department of Planning. An updated application is expected to be published that better aligns with the revised scope of the development. |
Sector
Energy
Procurement approach
Unconfirmed |
Location
New South Wales |
Resources
