The Hunter region is set to welcome a new solar farm and battery storage system by as early as 2025.
Ironically, old and new energy sources will face off, with the new project to be constructed on land adjacent to Malabar Resources’ Maxwell Underground Mine south of Muswellbrook.
The project is a joint venture between EDF Renewables and Malabar Resources’ Edderton Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
Its location sits within the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
The new address is near an existing electricity infrastructure.
While EDF Renewables’ brings global experience in the power generation sector, the project is also expected to benefit from Malabar’s long-term engagement with local communities and stakeholders.
The collaboration highlights the companies’ shared commitment to creating a sustainable future while offering the local community a more reliable, cheaper and cleaner energy supply.
“This joint venture will be a significant milestone in the development of the Hunter-Central Coast REZ, and we look forward to working closely with EDF Renewables and the local community,” Malabar Resources chairman Wayne Seabrook said.
The Edderton Solar Farm and BESS follow formal agreements signed in 2020 and 2021 by Malabar Resources and EDF Renewables to support the development of significant solar power and energy storage projects in the region.
It will have a capacity of about 350MW and will sit on approximately 1,000 hectares across three ‘islands’ in a designated zone on Malabar’s site, with a provision for a large-scale battery storage facility.
“The solar farm will significantly contribute to the region’s energy mix, providing clean and reliable energy to 130,000 homes while reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” EDF Renewables Australia CEO Dave Johnson said.
EDF Renewables and Malabar Resources are currently consulting with the local community as part of the development of a scoping report for the Edderton Solar Farm and BESS, which will be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment in early 2024 to begin the planning process.
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