EIS Report
450 MW
Goulburn Tirrannaville Region
TransGrid
The Merino Solar Farm will send clean and renewable energy into the New South Wales (NSW) electricity grid, providing power to local and broader NSW communities
In December 2023, EDP Renewables (EDPR) acquired ITP Development Australia and the company became part of EDP Renewables APAC, a leading clean energy hub for the region.
EDP Renewables Australia (EDPR Australia) develops utility and town-scale solar farms in Australia and undertakes solar farm landholder engagement, system design, planning approvals, financing, electrical connection approvals and commissioning.
EDPR Australia maintains relationships with multiple stakeholders such as communities, governments and contractors to ensure successful project delivery. We hold a broad portfolio of solar projects in the New South Wales region and are moving towards battery storage development.
About the Project
The Merino Solar Farm would have an approximate capacity of 450 megawatts (MW), with an associated 300 MW / 1200 megawatt-hours (MWh) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
The solar energy produced by the Merino Solar Farm would send clean, renewable power into the NSW electricity grid to serve the needs of both the local community and broader NSW. It would assist in the rapid decarbonisation initiative underlaid by the NSW government’s critical Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.
EDPR Australia is committed to working closely with the local community and authorities to ensure the project aligns with local needs and values.
Planning Process & Project Links
The Scoping Report for the Merino Solar Farm was submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) in June 2023. It was assessed by DPHI and relevant agencies, and Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) were issued on the 14th of July 2023.
SEARs are issued in response to a Scoping Report and outline the specialist reports that are to be undertaken during the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) phase of the development application. The objective of the EIS is to outline how a proposed project may affect various factors – such as environmental, Cultural Heritage, social, etc. – and allows the DPHI to assess the viability of the Project.
Technical assessments have now commenced to inform the EIS. Once the EIS is submitted, it will be placed on public exhibition for a minimum of 28 days for community and agency comment. Following this, a Response to Submission Report will be developed, and then the development application will be accessed by DPHI and will be determined to be either approved or denied.
To view the Scoping Report and issued SEARs on the NSW Major Projects Portal, as well as view the current Project status, click here.
Community
Engaging with the local community is essential to us. EDPR Australia seeks to ensure that neighbours, stakeholders and the wider community have access to information regarding the Proposal, how it may affect you, and the State Significant Development (SSD) application process so that you can participate in the Proposal and help to shape it.
We will be meeting with neighbours, facilitating community information sessions, and sharing information on the Project and its progress. Your feedback will help inform our studies as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process.
You can also complete the community feedback survey here.
We are available to answer your questions or concerns – please feel free to call us at 1300 551 715 or email us at merino@edp.com to discuss the Project with a member of our Project team.
Project Benefits
Aside from the generation of clean, green energy for the National Energy Market (NEM), the Project will deliver an economic boost to the local area through job creation and spending in ancillary services such as food and accommodation.
Additionally, a community benefit sharing fund will be developed as part of the Merino Solar Farm Project. The community benefit sharing fund will look to financially support local projects and initiatives to further enhance the region. If you have any ideas on what initiatives would benefit the Tirrannaville and Goulburn community, please email us at merino@edp.com.
Employment Opportunities
At the peak of construction, the Merino Solar Farm will provide employment and procurement opportunities with approximately 200-330 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs available, with opportunities available for local contractors and subcontractors. Construction for a Project of this size is anticipated to take approximately 24 months.
Additionally, approximately four FTE roles, and approximately 50 casual roles, will be required throughout operation.
Where possible, Merino Solar Farm will look to recruit from within the region, helping to keep benefits from the project in the local area. We will continue to engage with the community about these opportunities as planning continues.
If you are interested in future employment or contracting opportunities, please email merino@edp.com where we will register your details on our database.
If you are looking to register your interest in getting involved with the project, wish to discuss the Project further, or want to give your feedback, please feel free to contact us.
If you would like to stay up-to-date on the Project, please reach out and we will add you to the update distribution list.
Email: merino@edp.com / Phone: 1300 551 715