$198m solar farm opens

The Goulburn Valley officially houses the largest solar farm in Victoria after a nine-month construction period. 

The Numurkah Solar Farm, which sits on 515 hectares of land about 5 km east of Wunghnu, was opened yesterday. 

Moira Shire Mayor, Libro Mustica, Energy, Environment
and Climate Change Ministrer, Lily  D'Ambrosio, and
 Neoen Managing Director, Louis de Sambucy, at Numurkah.

Moira Shire Mayor Libro Mustica said the Numurkah Solar Farm was a promising induction to the shire. 

‘‘For this to be the biggest in the state and have it in the Moira Shire, we as councillors approved it because we wanted it to happen within our shire,’’ he said. 

‘‘What makes this great is, it’s more than a $140 million investment and to have it in our shire is wonderful. 

‘‘I don’t know how many local people would’ve been employed but it would have been substantial. 

‘‘It doesn’t matter where power goes providing it’s generated into the system.’’ 

The $198 million solar farm is almost 75 per cent functional and is expected to be fully operational in four weeks. 

Victorian Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the solar farm would play an important role for the state government’s 2030 renewable energy target. 

‘‘This is (a) fantastic project that has been made possible by the Victorian Government backing,’’ Ms D’Ambrosio said. 

‘‘When we provide the certainty for investors to actually put their dollar into the state, we can see fantastic projects being built. 

‘‘We can see globally there are billions of dollars of investment that are looking for places to invest because of our government’s strong Victorian Renewable Energy Targets.’’ 

Representatives from French company owner Neoen, constructor Downer, Cr Mustica and Ms D’Ambrosio attended the opening. The Numurkah Solar Farm is one of two solar farms supplying 100 per cent renewable energy to offset Melbourne’s entire tram network. 

The facility will generate about 250 000 MW hours of electricity into the national power grid each year. 

Neoen is also constructing NSW solar farms in Coleambally, Griffith, Parkes and Dubbo

Story by James Bennett from The Shepparton News - “$198m solar farm opens”.