ACEN Australia Pty Ltd (ACEN) proposes to develop the Deeargee Solar and Battery Project, a large‑scale grid connected solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) along with associated infrastructure approximately 12 kilometres (km) south‑east of Uralla in the Uralla Shire local government area (LGA) of New South Wales (NSW) (the project). The project is proposed within the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). The project is expected to have a generation capacity of up to 320 megawatts (MW) and will be constructed on land currently used for grazing and cropping. The BESS will have a capacity of up to 1,400 MW (AC) two‑hour energy storage, which may be configured as 700 MW four‑hour energy storage.
The project area is 1,544 ha, including an anticipated disturbance footprint of 1,002 ha and avoidance area of 542 ha (see Attachment 1 Att 1_ Local Context Figure). The land within the project area is predominantly freehold land and ACEN has entered into agreements with the landholders. Most of the impacts within the disturbance footprint, approximately 65%, are likely to be indirect (including partial shading from solar modules) rather than direct loss or removal of vegetation. Nevertheless, the impact assessments within this referral take a conservative approach and assume that direct impacts will occur within the entirety of the disturbance footprint.
The irregular shape of the disturbance footprint is based on avoidance of high biodiversity values, threatened ecological communities (TECs) and threatened species habitat.
The project area is within the New England REZ and will form an important part of Australia’s response to climate change and Commonwealth and NSW Government commitments in the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the electricity industry.
The project involves the development, construction, commissioning and operation of a solar PV electricity generation facility and BESS, which consists of PV modules, batteries, inverters, transformers, transmission lines and associated infrastructure. It is anticipated that the physical layout and design of the project will comprise the following key infrastructure elements:
- Solar farm – to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity. The solar farm will comprise around 750,000 PV modules as well as mounting structures, inverter stations, internal access tracks and associated cabling.
- BESS – to store and discharge electricity.
- Substation– an on‑site substation that will be connected to the solar farm and BESS.
- Switchyard– the switchyard will be the grid/New England REZ side of the project’s connection point. The project will connect into either infrastructure proposed as part of New England REZ or the existing 330-kV line approximately 8 km north of the solar array area via the proposed transmission line easement (see Attachment 1 – Att 1_Local Context.. The proposed transmission line easement is on predominantly private land and has been included in the project area and disturbance footprint. Limited details on the proposed New England REZ infrastructure were available at the time of writing; however, it is anticipated that an ‘energy hub’ will be constructed south‑east of Uralla within close proximity of the project area (see Attachment 1 – Att 1_Local Context) .
- Operations and maintenance (O&M) infrastructure.
- Site access – including access to the eastern and western sections of the solar farm from Hillview Road and/or Salisbury Plains Road. Separate site access points may be required to facilitate construction and operation of transmission infrastructure.
- A new internal road network to enable access from surrounding local roads to the two array areas during construction and operations.
- Temporary construction infrastructure.
A temporary worker accommodation facility for non‑local construction employees (where skills cannot be sourced locally) may be established to accommodate up to 400 workers (see Attachment 2 - Att 2_Project Layout).
The transport route to the project is yet to be confirmed but is expected to comprise vehicle movements from the New England Highway, which will access the project via:
- Access option 1: Salisbury Street, Duke Street, East Street and Gostwyck Road before turning onto Hillview Road
- Access option 2: Salisbury Street, Duke Street, Thunderbolts Way and Salisbury Plains Road (this option will require a new easement to be established over private land to access the disturbance footprint; however, it is noted that there is a paper road at this location)
- Access option 3: Salisbury Street, Duke Street, Thunderbolts Way and Carlon Menzies Road before turning onto Hillview Road.
All three access options have been included in the project area and disturbance footprint (see Attachment 2 - Att 2_Project Layout). Each access option will require upgrades to the local road network (including road widening and intersection improvements). The decision on the preferred access route will depend on outcomes of stakeholder engagement with Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) and Uralla Shire Council, as well as outcomes of environmental assessments.
Construction
Construction of the project is expected to be completed over approximately 24 months. Unless the Secretary agrees otherwise, ACEN will only undertake construction activities on‑site between 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday and 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturdays. A workforce of approximately 400 personnel will be required on‑site during peak construction.
Temporary infrastructure required during construction will include temporary construction compounds and laydown areas. Earthworks may be required for the preparation of the disturbance footprint, including site levelling, access track formation and drainage works. The majority of infrastructure will be prefabricated off‑site, delivered and assembled on‑site.
Laydown areas, waste handling, fuel and chemical storage areas will be strategically placed to minimise potential environmental impacts during construction. Where required, additional or improved drainage channels, sediment control ponds and dust control measures will be implemented.
Operation
The operational lifespan of the project will be in the order of 30 years, unless the facility is re‑powered at the end of the PV modules’ technical life. The decision to re‑power the plant will depend on the economics of solar PV technology and energy market conditions at that time. Should the PV modules be replaced during operations, the lifespan of the project may extend to up to 50 years. Throughout operations, a workforce of approximately 5–10 employees will be required.
It is anticipated that the facility will require regular maintenance, including site and infrastructure maintenance throughout its operational life. Regular light vehicle access will be required throughout operations. Heavy vehicles may be required occasionally for replacing larger components of project infrastructure including inverters, transformers or components of the BESS. Highly technical O&M activities will typically be undertaken by specialist subcontractors and/or equipment manufacturers whereas routine activities such as fencing maintenance and vegetation management is likely to be offered to local contractors wherever available. Internal access tracks cleared during the construction phase will remain for use during operations.
ACEN intends to enable sheep grazing to resume on portions of the array areas following the completion of the construction of the project. A detailed protocol will be developed to ensure biosecurity is maintained and that grazing does not impact on the safe and efficient operation of the project or result in injury to farm workers, stock or O&M staff.
Decommissioning
Once the project reaches the end of its investment and operational life, the project infrastructure will be decommissioned and the disturbance footprint returned to its pre‑existing land use, namely suitable for grazing of sheep and cattle, or another land use as agreed by the project owner and the landholder at that time.
Project decommissioning will require disturbance of the disturbance footprint during the removal of equipment. A significant number of employees, including both staff and contractors, and vehicle movements will be required during the decommissioning stage of the project.
ACEN will attempt to recycle all dismantled and decommissioned infrastructure and equipment, where possible. Structures and equipment that cannot be recycled will be disposed of at an approved waste management facility.
Direct and indirect impacts on the environment
The construction of solar and battery infrastructure, access roads and associated facilities for the operation of the project will result in the direct loss of vegetation and some minor alterations to the topography and landscape (such as site levelling). Direct impacts will be localised, and not occur across the entirety of the disturbance footprint. The majority of impacts are likely to be indirect impacts such as shading. These may also result in the modification of feeding, refuge and breeding habitat for native fauna, including habitat fragmentation and the loss of habitat connectivity.
ACEN is committed to avoiding areas of high environmental value. Wherever possible, direct impacts have been avoided and/or minimised through the design of the project. This process has ensured the avoidance of environmental constraints, including impacts on White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland, as listed under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Threatened species habitat (including for Koala Phascolarctos cinereus and White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus) has also been avoided as far as practicable. Any residual impacts would be compensated through implementation of biodiversity offsets.