New solar farm in New South Wales to power 191,000 homes

The Albanese Government has approved a new solar farm in the Upper Hunter which will generate enough energy to power 191,000 homes.

The 450 megawatt Goulburn River Solar Farm is located 28km south-west of Merriwa and includes the construction of 1 million solar panels, a battery storage system and local road upgrades.

The project is located between the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and the Hunter-Central Coast REZ, and will have direct access to the existing electricity transmission network.

We’ve now ticked off enough renewable energy projects to power the equivalent of over 7 million homes.

We are turning Australia into a renewable energy superpower. In just over two years, we’ve ticked off 63 renewable energy projects.

Under the previous Coalition Government, 24 coal fired power plants with a combined capacity of 26.7 GW announced their closure dates, yet they did not implement any policies or plans to secure replacement energy capacity.

Australians voted for progress and for us to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. They expect us to meet our legislated goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. And that’s exactly what we’re doing.

The project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 733,000 tonnes per annum, the equivalent of taking 220,000 cars off the road for a year.

Projects like this are not only vital to boost our renewables capacity and lower energy bills, but they are also fantastic for local jobs. This project will support up to 350 construction jobs and up to 10 full time jobs during operation.

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP:

“Labor is getting on with the job of transforming Australia into a renewable energy superpower while Peter Dutton’s risky nuclear scheme is threatening investment in renewables.

“I’ve ticked off enough renewable energy projects to power the equivalent of more than 7 million Australian homes.

“That’s enough energy to power every home in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania.

“Australians face a choice between a renewable energy transition that is already underway and putting downward pressure energy prices, or footing the bill for an expensive nuclear fantasy that may never happen.”