Hazelwood North Solar Farm has been greenlit for renewable energy generation
Hazelwood North Solar Farm has been granted planning permit approval for a 450-megawatt solar farm that will power approximately 150,000 homes and prevent 700,000 tons of emissions.
The $651m project will create about 500 construction jobs and be more extensive than any solar farm currently operating in the state. As part of the construction plan, the site will be bordered by native vegetation landscaping to screen the facility from the surrounding land visually.
The project also includes provision for a large 450-megawatt, four-hour battery energy storage facility that will store cheap solar power during the day and feed it into the grid when needed.
Renewable energy made up 39% of energy capacity last year because of the 78 new large-scale projects commissioned to date, delivering 5.34 gigawatts of energy.
These projects support Victoria’s nation-leading renewable energy generation targets of 65% by 2030 and 95% by 2035. These renewable energy targets are supported by energy storage targets of at least 2.6 giga-watts by 2030 and 6.3 gigawatts by 2035.
“The Latrobe Valley has been the home of Victoria’s energy generation for decades,” said Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio, “and our nation-leading targets are helping solidify its role in our renewable energy future – this project will deliver 500 local jobs and power 150,000 homes.”
The Labor Government is delivering more renewable energy projects and ensuring they are built faster, thanks to recent changes permitting renewable energy projects to be eligible for an accelerated planning pathway under the Development Facilitation Program.
Victoria has hit every climate and energy target it has set to date and is on track to meet its renewable energy target of 95% by 2035 which will create 59,000 jobs, deliver $9.5bn in economic development and help us reach net-zero emissions by 2045.