The Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy, Anthony Roberts marked the official completion of Australia’s two largest solar plants – at Nyngan and Broken Hill – by attending an official ceremony held at Nyngan today.
“This is a legacy that will last for generations and will greatly benefit the local and wider communities by providing a reliable and cost-effective energy source, Mr Roberts said.
“The NSW Government provided almost $65 million dollars towards the Solar Flagship projects at Nyngan and Broken Hill, which have collectively supported over
450 regional jobs and driven $440 million of investment into the State”.
The Nyngan Solar plant is the largest in Australia and the Broken Hill facility is currently the second largest.
Nyngan and Broken Hill now provide an important part of the State’s energy security and diversity by supplying affordable and sustainable energy for NSW.
At full capacity, the Nyngan Solar Plant can generate 102 megawatts, which is enough to power 33,000 NSW homes.
Along with the 53 megawatt Broken Hill solar plant the Solar Flagship projects can power more than 50,000 homes”.
Mr Roberts said the NSW Government had made clear commitments under the State’s Renewable Energy Action Plan and released the Plan’s second annual report, with 12 of its 24 goals already completed and nine more are well progressed.
“Eight NSW solar farm projects have now been shortlisted for millions of dollars in funding under the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s $100 million Competitive Funding Round for large-scale solar installations.
“Around 35 per cent of renewable energy companies in Australia have their headquarters in NSW, an industry that now supports about 20,000 jobs, Mr Roberts said.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Mark Speakman, said: “NSW is leading the nation in commercial-scale solar electricity generation with almost 500,000 megawatts hours produced from over 8,800 systems.
“More than 320,000 NSW households and small businesses are now generating power from the sun, representing a $3 billion investment.
“The knowledge and expertise acquired from the Nyngan and Broken Hill solar plants has put NSW in a prime position to continue to lead the country in large scale solar investment,” Mr Speakman said.
Under the NSW Renewable Energy Action Plan, the Government and the State’s Renewable Energy Advocate, Ms Amy Kean, will continue to support solar companies to invest in our great state.
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