FACT SHEET

GUNNEDAH SOLAR FARMOrange Grove Road

Estimated capacity: 165 MWp Power for equivalent of 49,000 homes Annual CO2 savings: 236,302 tonnes

The locationThe proposed solar farm is approximately 9km from Gunnedah, on the Orange Grove Road.

The planned solar area is 203 hectares within a 692 hectare farm, which is currently used for cropping. The remaining land will continue its existing agricultural use. This combined land use has been highly successful around the world, including other Photon Energy solar farms.

The 203 hectares of land is much smaller than the average farm size in NSW and will continue to serve as agricultural land with good land management practices.

Energy generation and capacityThe Gunnedah Solar Farm will generate 293,000 GWh of clean, renewable energy per annum. That’s enough energy for close to 49,000 households – approximately ten times the number of homes in the Gunnedah Shire. Photovoltaic Solar is now recognised as the cheapest form of energy generation and this solar farm will also help reduce the cost of electricity in NSW by increasing supply. Gunnedah Solar Farm is one of the first in Australia to be developed without government subsidy and is a fully commercial operation.

Community benefitsThis solar farm will create approximately 100 jobs during construction and support up to ten jobs during operation. Photon Energy is committed to employing locally wherever possible. This project will help develop experience in skilled electrical trades and best practices for combined land use solar farming.

Photon Energy solar farmsDrawing on a team with over ten years of global solar farm experience, Photon Energy is one of Australia’s leading solar farm designers and managers. The company has installed major Australian commercial solar systems and European solar farms. The Photon Energy team in NSW is currently completing a new solar farm in Leeton.

Estimated project approval timeline

SEP 2017

NOV 2017

NOV 2017 to

MAR 2018

APR 2018 to

MAY 2018

JUN 2018 to

JUL 2018

JAN 2017 to

MAR 2018

MAY 2018 to

JUN 2018

SEP 2018

Feasibility Secretary’s Environment Assessment Requirements (SEARs) issued by Department of Planning and Environment.

AssessmentIf required, the development will be referred to the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC). If the PAC is not required, DP&E will complete their assessment. DP&E will complete their assessment and provide a Determination for the development.

Prepare Development Application Site visits conducted by the environmental specialists. Engagement with the community and stakeholders.

Public Exhibition DP&E will place Gunnedah Solar Farm’s application on public exhibition for approximately four weeks. Community members have the opportunity to submit feedback to the DP&E on the project.

Feasibility Advise the community about the proposed solar farm and start community discussion.

DeterminationThe DP&E (or, if applicable, the PAC) will

announce their decision. There may be conditions included to mitigate and address

issues raised by the community.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) The environmental specialists prepare reports

as inputs into the EIS. The EIS considers all of the specialists’ studies and assesses the

potential impact of the development. The EIS is drafted and submitted to NSW Department

Planning and Environment (DP&E) for review.

Gunnedah Solar Farm responds to submissions

A Submission Report will be prepared after the exhibition period. The report will

address feedback received during the public exhibition.

Email: gunnedahsolarfarm@photonenergy.comWeb: www.photonenergy.com.au/current-projects/gunnedah/

Phone: 1300 881 045

2 km

Oxley Highway

Orange Grove Road

Namoi River

Gunnedah

Solar FarmFootprint

MAP OF THE GUNNEDAH SOLAR FARM 9KM FROM GUNNEDAH