Gippsland solar farms attract new investors

Octopus Australia and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation announced they had purchased the rights from Victorian developer, Solis Re, to develop the solar farms at Perry Bridge and Fulham.

The two companies said the move would accelerate the delivery of both the proposed 44 megawatt Perry Bridge solar farm, and the 80MW farm at Fulham where a planning process is underway.

Octopus Australia's managing director Sam Reynolds said the renewable projects would help create jobs for the region due to the expected early retirement of the 1480MW Yallourn brown coal-fired power station.

"Gippsland has its roots in the electricity industry, and these projects help the region continue that journey," Mr Reynolds said.

The Perry Bridge solar farm received government planning approval on April 15, 2021, and combined the two projects will create more than 250 direct jobs during their construction, investors say.

Octopus Australia, a subsidiary of the Octopus Group which owns the 333MW Darlington Point, NSW, solar farm said the projects would also showcase how sheep could be grazed and co-exist with a solar farm.

The Fulham project will span 161 hectares and produce up to 80 megawatt-hours of battery storage, costing an estimated $120 million to build.

The Perry Bridge farm will be based on 93 hectares and provide between 40-50 MWHr of battery storage, costing developers an estimated $70 million.

Both projects will be based in the Wellington Shire Council.

"Through its investments, the CEFC has helped Australia's renewable energy sector achieve rapid growth in recent years, delivering substantial amounts of clean energy across Australia," Mr Reynolds said.

"This experience will be critical as we develop these renewable energy assets for Gippsland."

The Darlington Point solar farm is the largest of its kind to supply electricity to the National Electricity Market and said it was one of the largest investors in clean energy with more than $6 billion tied up in 250 projects.

Wellington Shire Council mayor Garry Stephens said the new investors were a "significant step forward" in the project as the region transitioned towards renewable energy.

"It's a great sign that we're getting really serious about renewable energy in Gippsland," Cr Stephens said.

"These projects are not only good for the environment, but they will also create work and a positive attitude in a time where things have been grim.

"We've had a lot of adversity here with various droughts, fires, floods and a pandemic so this is a really positive sign and only the start of a number of projects."

Cr Stephens said the community had strongly supported both solar farms at Perry Bridge and Fulham.

"At Perry Bridge, there was no sign of any opposition at all and as far as we know at the moment there is no opposition to the farm Fulham," he said.

"There's generally very positive vibes in the community and people like the fact it's renewable and good for the economy."