The Narrabri Solar Farm will offset around 182,000 tonnes of CO-2 per annum, significantly contributing towards the New South Wales net-zero emissions by 2050 target.

Community benefits

The Narrabri Solar Farm has a capital investment value of more than $30 million and is deemed a State Significant Development (SSD). It would bring significant investment to the local area during construction. It would create jobs, diversify income, and increase revenue for local service providers such as food, fuel, and accommodation operators.

The project would generate around 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) construction roles and three FTE operational roles once the project is operational.

Once the project is operational, benefits would continue with long-term jobs, and the establishment of community benefit schemes.

Project status

The Narrabri Solar Farm is currently undertaking technical assessments as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) phase of the State Significant Development (SSD) development application process. The EIS outlines how a proposed project may affect various factors (such as environment, cultural heritage, social etc.) and allows the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) to assess the viability of a project.

See below for more information on NSW SSD application process.

A Scoping Report is an initial step in the State Significant Development (SSD) process that outlines for the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) a description of the Proposal and an early indication on considerations such as community views.
SEARs are issued by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) in response to a Scoping Report, and specify what issues need to be addressed in the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The objective of an EIS is to outline how a proposed project may affect various factors (such as environment, cultural heritage, social etc.) and allows DPHI to assess the viability of a project.
Once the EIS is submitted, it is placed on public exhibition for a minimum of 28 days for community and agency comment.
Following the exhibition period, the developer responds to all of the submission items via a Response to Submissions Report.
Following the Response to Submissions Report, DPHI will make a determination on the Proposal, and will either approve or deny it.

The proposed Narrabri Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) would be located approximately 11km north of Narrabri, New South Wales. The proposed site is approximately 312 hectares (ha) of private land and is zoned Rural Primary Production (RU1) under the Narrabri Local Environmental Plan 2012.

The Solar Farm would connect directly to the National Energy Market by cutting into the existing 132 kV high voltage powerline traversing the land.

The site is not located within a Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).