Solar nitty gritty to start

A year-long process is soon set to begin to design all elements of the forthcoming solar farm planned for GV Link land south of Mooroopna.

And then, providing a planning permit is awarded, a further year to build the site.

This all comes after Shepparton councillors formally resolved to enter into a lease for the proposed facility with GVCE Mooroopna Solar this week.

This resolution is described by those behind the proposal as the start of a journey.

Goulburn Valley Community Energy chief executive Geoff Lodge, who welcomed the decision, remained pleased to be moving to the next stage of the project.

He said the next year would lead to the ‘‘critical step’’ of seeking planning approval.

‘‘That’s 12 months’ work ahead of us,’’ Mr Lodge said.

‘‘The most important thing about (this week), is we can now start that journey.

‘‘The key thing is, we have tenure over that to be able to do those works.’’

The forthcoming $40 million solar farm will encompass an estimated 62 000 panels and 35 000 MWh/year of electricity generated across 30 ha of land.

The project is estimated to have 120 jobs attached at peak construction and service about 6500 homes (at 15 kWh/day/house).

This forthcoming design process is set to look at details such as, ‘‘exactly where we put in each solar panel’’ and ‘‘how are we mounting them to a frame’’.

In short, it will be the design of every aspect of the project.

Mr Lodge said with a lease commitment made, subject to a planning permit and other agreements, the team could invest efforts to do the design work.

‘‘Now we’ve secured the lease, when it’s signed, probably next week, we’ll start all these design aspects,’’ he said.

This 12-month process will entail collecting all necessary information, including studies and agreements and grid connection information.

‘‘We will have a consultation with the local community, with what we propose to do,’’ Mr Lodge said.

‘‘What this step is it now means the signing of the lease . . . That will happen very soon, which enables the commencement of the design process.’’

Following the 12-month design process, a further year is expected to be taken constructing the facility.

But for now, Mr Lodge described the forthcoming ‘‘journey’’ and stage it was at as exciting.

Story by Thomas Moir from The Shepparton News - “Solar nitty gritty to start.”

Solar lease a 'win win for everyone'

Greater Shepparton City councillors have voted to enter into a lease agreement for a 23 MW solar farm proposal for GV Link land south of Mooroopna.

At a meeting this week, councillors unanimously voted to grant a lease to GVCE Mooroopna Solar on negotiated terms.

Cr Dinny Adem described the lease as a ‘‘win win for everyone’’, while Cr Bruce Giovanetti said it was an ‘‘excellent achievement to get to this point’’ despite it taking ‘‘a long time to get here’’.

Councillors noted two objections received, both of which had been reviewed and considered.

Cr Chris Hazelman said the objections received related ‘‘more to the operation of the solar farm’’ which the council is ‘‘anticipating we’ll get a planning permit to come later’’.

‘‘Those objectors will get another bite of the cherry,’’ he said.

‘‘That planning permit will go out to public advertisement, this is very much the first stage of the process.’’

Cr Dennis Patterson said it was ‘‘great to work with a community group on a project like this’’, while Mayor Kim O’Keeffe argued ‘‘renewable energy initiatives support the ongoing sustainability’’ of ‘‘local businesses, industry and jobs’’.

Council had in December flagged its intention to enter into the lease for the proposed solar farm, voting to provide public notice.

GVCE chief executive Geoff Lodge had at the time described the council’s decision of intention to lease the land as a ‘‘significant milestone’’ for the project.

The proposed lease would be for a 25-year term, with the option to extend the lease for an additional 25 years.

GVCE Mooroopna Solar indicated to the council that the proposed solar farm would be able to generate up to 23 MW a year.

The lease is for the GV Link land east of Toolamba Rd and the railway line, for the purposes of construction and use as a solar farm.

Mr Lodge in December estimated the proposed facility could feature 62 000 panels across a 30 ha area, provide enough electricity for 6500 homes at a time and provide more than 100 construction jobs in building the facility.

Mr Lodge anticipated about 12 months of detailed designing, including planning approvals, ahead of a further 12 months to construct the facility.

The principal terms of the lease endorsed by councillors include annual rental to be $30 000 plus GST, subject to CPI adjustments at regular intervals and a market review on exercise of the option.

Background information to the meeting specifies the lease would not commence until the ‘‘special purpose vehicle’’ has received all approvals and secured Power Purchase Agreements and obtained the required finance for the project with a financial institution.

The story “Solar Lease” is from The Shepparton News.

Solar lease step forward for Shepparton

Greater Shepparton City Council has flagged its intention to enter into a lease with Goulburn Valley Community Energy on a $40 million solar farm for GV Link land south of Mooroopna.

The proposed lease would be for a 25-year term, with the option to extend the lease for an additional 25 years.

GVCE Mooroopna Solar Pty Ltd indicated to the council that the proposed solar farm would be able to generate up to 23 MW per year.

The lease is for the GV Link land east of Toolamba Rd and the railway line, for the purposes of construction and use as a solar farm, the council said.

Councillors this week voted to provide public notice of the council’s intention to enter into a lease agreement.

GVCE chief executive Geoff Lodge described the council’s decision of intention to lease the land as a ‘‘significant milestone’’ for the project.

‘‘They now need to advertise that; that’s a significant step for us.’’

Mr Lodge estimated the proposed facility would feature 62 000 panels across a 30 ha area.

He said it could provide enough electricity for 6500 homes at any one time and provide more than 100 construction jobs in building the facility.

A council statement said it had also been in receipt of a number of investment inquiries in relation to the leasing of land at the GV Link site. Council officers recognised an opportunity to make the GV Link land east of Toolamba Rd available for a large-scale solar farm, the statement continued.

Council chief executive Peter Harriott had last year been optimistic of the first sod being turned on the project last year.

More than six months later, the council had said while the tender process had been completed on the project, confidential negotiations were continuing.

‘‘A lease for the proposed solar farm at the GV Link site east of Toolamba Rd has now been negotiated and council is proposing to lease the land to GVCE Mooroopna Solar Pty Ltd, being a ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ which consists of Goulburn Valley Community Energy Pty Ltd (GVCE) and AKUO Energy Pty Ltd,’’ a council statement read.

‘‘Council officers will now progress to the next stage of the process which consists of advertising council’s intention to enter into a proposed lease with the SPV.’’

An advertisement will be made, with public submissions invited for a month from January 4.

‘‘The proposed lease is subject to a number of conditions relating to the planning and development of the solar farm, which include but are not limited to: obtaining approvals and finance and entering into Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with relevant parties to purchase the electricity generated by the solar farm,’’ the statement continued.

‘‘The proposed lease would not commence until the SPV has received all approvals and secured PPAs and obtained the required finance for the project with a financial institution.’’

Mayor Kim O’Keeffe said the subject land east of Toolamba Rd had been set aside for water detention as part of the future GV Link project and council officers felt that the area north of the proposed water detention basin could be suitable for a solar farm.

The council had last year hoped the solar development would be capable of producing a minimum of 10 MW, and that the facility might help reverse uncertainty caused by extra energy costs estimated as being in the millions for some businesses.

At this week’s meeting, Cr Bruce Giovanetti said it was ‘‘really great this project is getting off the ground,’’ and that it had been in the works for ‘‘quite some time.’’

Mr Lodge anticipated about 12 months of detailed designing, including planning approvals, ahead of a further 12 months to construct the facility.

The principal terms of the lease endorsed by councillors include annual rental to be $30 000 plus GST, subject to CPI adjustments at regular intervals and a market review on exercise of the option.

Story from The Shepparton News - “Solar lease step forward.”