TotalEnergies' 320MW Australian Solar Farm Receives Conditional Approval

The Independent Planning Commission (IPC) of New South Wales has greenlit a plan by TotalEnergies Renewables Australia Pty Ltd to build a 320-MW solar park with batteries, with conditions set to address community concerns.

The project, considered a state significant development, was earlier approved by the state Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in August but was referred to the IPC after it received more than 50 public objections. IPC said on Monday that its approval was granted on conditions concerning vegetation screening, soil surveys, and specific dust mitigation measures. The developer will also need to present a comprehensive management plan, report on mitigation and monitoring outcomes and prepare a decommissioning and rehabilitation plan.

The Middlebrook Solar Farm is planned to be installed about 22 km south of Tamworth, at a site that IPC has determined as “suitable for renewable energy development.” Once in operation, it will be able to generate electricity to cover the consumption of about 122,200 homes annually.

TotalEnergies plans to integrate a 320-MW/780-MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) within the solar park.