Planning underway for Fulham Solar Farm
Gippsland’s transition to renewable energy continues to gather momentum, with planning underway for a new solar farm in Fulham.
The Fulham Solar Farm is a joint venture (JV) between Solis Renewable Energy, Marathon Electrical and WK & MA Ferguson, and is their second project to commence the planning process, with the Perry Bridge Solar Farm recently receiving planning approval from the Victorian Government.
The Fulham project is a proposed solar farm of 80 megawatts (enough to power around 25,000 homes) with battery storage of up to 80 megawatt hours to be located on 400 acres of farmland adjacent to the northwest corner of the Hopkins Road and McLarens Road intersection, Fulham. The solar farm is planned to co-exist with existing grazing activities on the site.
Detailed site assessments and designs are currently underway, with a formal period of community consultation to be completed in the coming months, prior to submission of a planning application to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).
“We are very excited by the ongoing progress and support for these projects” said Brett Singh, Director of Marathon Electrical, “we have had significant interest from the local community and industry regarding the projects and are well advanced in discussions with AusNet regarding connecting the projects to the grid”.
To support the renewable energy projects across the region, the JV partners have joined with a number of other local organisations to launch the Australian Renewables Academy.
The Australian Renewables Academy (ARA) aims to create and embed a renewable energy skilled workforce in Gippsland, allowing local people to participate fully in and benefit from the renewable energy boom that is beginning in the region.
“We intend to create opportunities for all members of the Gippsland community through supported training and work readiness programs,” said Singh. “The ARA will ensure that the economic and social benefits of the rapidly developing renewables sector are realised by the local community through the development of a well trained workforce, with transferable skills to make the most of the employment opportunities in the sector.”
The Australian Renewables Academy will be based in Sale and over time will develop courses and connections with education providers that are relevant to industry and can be delivered Australia wide.