FAQs
What are the benefits to the local community?
Large scale renewable projects create long-term employment (30 yrs+) which is rare in many rural communities. Employment is bolstered not only in the construction and maintenance of renewable projects but all the way through the local business supply chain – including pubs, hotels, B&B’s, café’s, caterers, cleaners, uniform suppliers, fuel suppliers, hardware suppliers, vehicle and machinery servicing and many other businesses.
An Economic Impact Assessment will look at the Regional Economic Context (study area, employment rate, Occupational and business structure, townships that will service project needs such as accomodation, trade supplies, etc). The Economic Impact Assessment includes how the project will support local employment and describes other major infrastructure projects, the timing of other significant developments and more.
What are the further benefits?
Keeping the price of electricity down
According to Deloitte, Australian households will pay $510 million more for power in 2020 without renewable growth through the Renewable Energy Target (RET) and up to $1.4 billion more per year beyond 2020. Renewables increase competition in the wholesale energy market, and, as in any market, less competition means higher prices.
To demonstrate how this works, Powershop has created an excellent YouTube video that can be viewed at Powershop.
A better environment
Renewable Energy projects do not emit carbon dioxide (CO2), airborne particulates or other greenhouse gas emissions during their operation. As such, they generate clean, green electricity over a long period of time, which contributes to making Australia a cleaner and healthier society. At the end of their operational life, renewable infrastructure like solar farms can be removed quickly and easily without a lifetime of residual pollution to deal with. There are no fossil fuel-based generators that can do this.
Why is the solar farm located here and not elsewhere?
- Close proximity to the grid network (above 66kV) with available capacity
- Excellent transport access with minimal impact to local roads and excellent access to major roads
- Excellent exposure to Australia’s world-class solar resource
- Not within a flood area
- Topography and terrain that meets our requirements
- Majority of the proposed land is zoned "Heavy Industrial"
RES uses a GIS (Geospatial Information System)-based search system to help identify potential solar farm sites. This highlights areas that meet our criteria for large, level ground that doesn’t contain protected ecological areas, outside flood risk zones with road access that have suitable high voltage grid lines adjacent to the site.
Is the solar farm a waste of good agricultural land?
The land is currently used for grazing. It is expected that sheep grazing would continue at the solar farm site.
The solar farm would not affect farming operations on neighbouring properties and the project would not have any long-term effect on the agricultural potential or land use of the site, beyond the life of the solar farm.
Do solar panels create glare?
Solar panels are flat and are designed to capture light, not reflect it. Solar modules are coated with anti-reflective materials that maximize light absorption. It is important to note that solar panels reflect significantly less light than flat water and less light than wet grassland.
RES will always undertake a site-specific assessment in a later stage of the project.
Do solar panels withstand hail?
Solar panel manufacturers test their products to ensure that they are capable of withstanding hail storms. In most cases, solar panels are tested and certified to withstand hail of up to 25 mm (one inch) falling at 23 meters per second (approximately 50 miles per hour).
Are solar panels creating heat outside the perimeter of a solar farm?
Concerns have been raised in some communities regarding any heat that may be associated with large-scale solar developments. A study has found that while temperatures within the perimeter of a solar PV array increased by 3-4°C, the heat dissipated rapidly over a relatively short distance. Solar farms require a buffer zone around the perimeter of the solar PV array for access and maintenance of the panels. It is anticipated that this additional space will be sufficient to dissipate the temperature increases.
Will the solar farm affect land values in the area?
There is no study available on the impact of solar farm developments on property values in Australia. However, a series of studies on the impacts of wind farms, which have higher visibility and noise emissions than solar farms, has shown that land values are very unlikely to be impacted. The NSW Department of Lands’ analysis of property sales data found that wind farms did not negatively affect property values in most cases (Link to report)
Furthermore, a report commissioned by the Office of Environment and Heritage concluded that the available data does not show any significant impact to the value of agricultural properties.
Will the solar farm create noise?
Noise is part of the site-specific assessments that RES will undertake in a later stage of the project. The design will be informed by several detailed technical engineering and environmental studies, which include: Noise, visual impact, transport route assessment, traffic impact assessment, heritage, ecology, stormwater management plan, bushfire assessment, Land contamination assessment, and socio-economic assessment.
Will there be a lot of concrete used to construct the project?
No concrete is used for the solar panels, which make up the majority of the site infrastructure and are mounted on piles that are driven into the ground. Concrete use is limited to parts of the substation, battery storage foundation construction and possibly plinths for the inverters depending on the final design.
Will the solar farm construction have an effect on the drainage of our property?
RES will follow the requirements from DPIE (Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment) to submit a Development Application in regards of water use and water quality (surface and groundwater) and hydrology. Therefore an assessment of the likely impacts of the development (including flooding) on surface water, groundwater and resources must be included.
Will there be increased dust from heavy traffic and earthworks?
To prevent dust affecting neighbours and road users, unsealed roads and bare works surfaces at the project site would be watered down as required. After construction, there is likely to be limited dust coming off the property because perennial groundcover would be established across the site.
Will the construction traffic create delays and collision risks for stock and road users?
Heavy traffic would be intermittent and would be confined to the construction period (12 months to 18 months).
During construction of the project, it is expected that:
- 90% of employees arrive during the morning peak hour and depart during the evening peak hour
- 30% of employees are expected to carpool
- Heavy equipment is expected to be delivered to site at the beginning of construction phases and removed at the end
- Truck arrivals/ departures are expected to be evenly distributed throughout the day
Local residents neighbouring the project site would continue to be consulted regarding the timing and impacts of traffic in the build-up to and during construction. To ensure road safety, transport routes, upgrade designs and traffic management plans would be developed with and approved by RMS and Council in advance of construction.
Traffic impacts would also be minimised by:
- Upgrading intersections where required to ensure road user safety
- Avoiding deliveries during peak use periods (tourism festivals, commuting times), where possible
- Using traffic controls and speed limits to ensure road safety
- Carpooling/shuttle bus arrangements to minimise staff vehicle movements
- Arranging for the repair of any road damage during the construction period
- Providing a contact phone number for the public to enable rapid response to any issues or concerns.
How will concerns and complaints during construction be handled?
An ‘Information and Complaints’ phone service would be set up to speedily respond to any concerns during the construction period.
Will the safety and security of the area be affected?
The solar farm would have on-site staff, perimeter security fencing, infra-red lighting and cameras to deter vandalism and theft. The solar farm is not expected to increase the risk of anti-social behaviour in the locality, and should not attract casual passers-by.
Will the project increase the local fire risk?
The solar array would be largely constructed of glass, silicon, steel and aluminium and would have very low flammability. Vulnerable equipment at the site, such as the Energy Storage Facility and the substation will be fitted with lightning protection and surrounded by a fenced, gravelled compound. The Energy Storage Facility would have integrated fire detection and control systems using inert fire suppression gases. Also, the Energy Storage Facility will be constructed with fire retardant materials and will incorporate fire suppression measures.
During construction, a Fire Management Plan would be used to manage fire risks during the construction period, including the suspension of work with the potential to cause an ignition during total fire ban days.
The solar farm buildings would be constructed of low combustibility or non-combustible materials.
During the operation phase, fire risks would be minimised by maintaining low vegetation fuel levels, on-site water supplies, and good firefighting access.
After operation commences, the local RFS and Fire and Rescue brigades would be invited to an information and orientation day at the site. The proponent would also facilitate and fund on-site training for local brigades in the management of lithium-ion battery fires.
Are there any radiation impacts and will there be interference to mobile phone reception?
Electromagnetic fields (EMF) would be produced by electrical components at the site. EMFs also occur naturally in the environment.
EMFs around power lines and the substation would be less than recommended limits. Research in America has found that EMFs from solar arrays were not distinguishable from background levels at the site boundary. The inverters in the solar array would produce Extremely Low-Frequency EMFs, which are not hazardous to human health.
The EMF levels at distances of 5-10 meters from substations are generally indistinguishable from typical background levels in a home. The lithium-ion batteries used in the Energy Storage Facility are not associated with high levels of EMF.
Most cabling installed for the project would be buried along the access tracks and radiation emissions would be negligible.
The solar farm would not likely interfere with local mobile phone, radio or television reception. These devices operate at a much higher frequency than the AC electrical equipment that would be used at the solar farms, and any EMFs produced by the solar farms would dissipate rapidly with distance from the source.
Will weeds and pest animals be controlled at the site?
Weed control would be undertaken prior to the works and would continue throughout the life of the solar farm. Pest animals would also be controlled as required in accordance with a monitoring plan.
What happens after the solar farm closes down?
The solar farm is expected to operate for over 30 years. After decommissioning, the above-ground infrastructure will be removed as well as any infrastructure within 500mm of ground level.
The site would be returned to their pre-works state. Soil surveys have been undertaken to ensure that soils are restored to their original condition.
The project would not have any long-term effect on agricultural productivity or land use options.
Want to know more about the planning framework for large-scale solar energy developments?
The "Large Scale Solar Energy Guideline" provides guidance on the planning framework for the assessment and determination of State significant large-scale solar energy projects under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.
Is solar energy efficient?
There are some websites which seek to discredit renewable energy as a viable, cost-effective, efficient energy source. The cost and generation numbers of renewable energy generators speak for themselves. In 2015, renewable energy surpassed coal to become the largest source of global electricity capacity. The International Energy Agency is predicting that renewable energy will triple its current generation levels over the next 25 years. In terms of investment in the global power sector, more is being invested in renewable energy than in oil, gas, and coal combined (Source: IEA 2015). The world’s major institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds are divesting from fossil fuels and investing in renewable energy, because they understand that renewable energy provides a stable, long-term means of power generation at a very low cost, with no residual pollution risks or risks to their investors/shareholders. As a result of this investment, renewable energy will continue to grow in Australia. In comparison, pure coal companies business interests have shrunk by 60% in Australia since 2012.
Do renewable energy generators get big subsidies?
In Australia, renewable energy generators receive income from selling the power they generate, plus they receive an ‘LGC’ (Large scale Generations Certificate), which can be traded for cash value. According to ACIL Allen, LGC’s presently cost the Australian public an average of around $50 per year on their energy bills. However, this cost is offset by reducing the wholesale cost of power during market price spikes.
By comparison, according to the International Monetary Fund, Australians subsidise fossil fuel interests by $41billion, or the equivalent of $1,772 per person per year or around 2% of Australia’s GDP.2
You should also consider that most fossil fuel generation in Australia is provided by plant which was built by the State many years ago, much of which is beyond its design life and has now been fully depreciated. This means that the cost of building the plant has been fully repaid and the current cost of generating electricity only reflects what it takes to maintain and operate the facility. Faced with this any new generation plant, regardless of fuel source, would need some form of support mechanism to enter the market. As this older plant reaches the end of its useful life it will need to be replaced and the cost of any replacement plant will need to account for full costs to build, operate and maintain it. The Renewable Energy Target under which LGC’s are issued is there to ensure that new generating plant can enter the market and that there is an orderly transition to renewable technologies.
1 Source: International Energy Agency – date accessed 10th April 2017
2 Source: IMF Working Paper – 'How Large Are Global Energy Subsidies?'