ACS Actividades de Construcción y Servicios S A : News CIMIC to develop one of Australia’s largest solar farms 18.06.2024 Read

CIMIC Group company Pacific Partnerships has acquired the development rights for the 700MWac Cobbora Solar Farm and co-located large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) project in New South Wales which, when developed, will be one of the largest solar farms in Australia.

Pacific Partnerships, through its energy business, Pacific Partnerships Energy, will develop, invest in, and manage delivery and operations of the Cobbora Solar Farm and BESS, located across a 3,000 hectare site near Dubbo.

Fellow CIMIC company UGL will undertake early works, develop the project solution, and provide operation and maintenance services once completed.

CIMIC Group Executive Chairman Juan Santamaria said: "CIMIC is committed to Australia's energy transition and is developing the large-scale renewable generation assets and infrastructure required to support it.

"NSW is part of our strategic new energy focus as we expand our diversified national portfolio of assets and contribute to the Australian Government's commitments to reach net zero emissions by 2050."

Pacific Partnerships Managing Director Simon Nicholls said: "The Cobbora Solar Farm is a fundamental piece of the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWO REZ), which in turn is a critical priority for the NSW Government."

UGL Managing Director Doug Moss said: "The solar farm will have the potential to generate enough clean, renewable energy to power approximately 280,000 average-sized homes and it includes an area that can accommodate up to 1600MWh of BESS to supply energy on demand."

The project is located 55km east of Dubbo on mostly cleared grazing land. It is being designed with minimal long-term disruption to the land, and current productive sheep grazing is expected to continue when the solar farm is operational.

An Environmental Impact Statement for the Cobbora Solar Farm is due to be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) in late 2024, before being placed on public exhibition for community and stakeholder feedback.

Pacific Partnerships purchased the project from Marble Energy, a renewable energy developer based in Sydney.

Marble Energy Co-Director Tim Kirk said: "The Cobbora Solar Farm will be located on a low, undulating landscape. This makes it an ideal site for a solar farm development. We look forward to continuing to support the project through the development process."

Marble Energy Co-Director, Gordon Ou said: "Pacific Partnerships' acquisition of the development rights provides a high degree of certainty for a successful project and the long-term generation of clean, affordable and reliable power supply for homes and businesses across NSW."

The Cobbora Solar Farm will connect to the national network via infrastructure to be delivered by EnergyCo NSW as part of the CWO REZ.

Pacific Partnerships will proactively engage and share benefits with the regional community, as demonstrated through its positive community engagement approach at Glenrowan Solar Farm in North East Victoria.