Bright spot in Moorabool’s future

By Matt Romania

Acting on behalf of Elgin Energy, Urbis engaged the Elaine community last week in an information session. This was an opportunity for locals to learn more about the proposed Elaine Solar Farm, voice their queries and provide feedback directly to the project team.

The proposed Elaine Solar Farm would spread across 600 acres. Currently, this land is utilised for various agricultural activities.

“This is just the start of the consultation. We’ll be continuing to talk to the community and capture community feedback to inform the planning application,” Urbis shared with The Moorabool News.

The proposed site’s strategic location adjacent to the Elaine substation would enable power exportation to the grid, connecting to existing wind farms nearby. Additionally, the site’s exposure to a high amount of direct sun per square metre and relatively flat, clear land with minimal environmental constraints made it an optimal choice, according to Elgin Energy.

Touting impressive figures, the solar farm could potentially power up to 60,000 homes with its 125 MW PV solar energy. The facility will also host a battery of the same size and approximately 230,000 solar panel arrays. The construction, estimated to last 12 months, will lead to a brighter, more sustainable future.

Set to lodge the planning permit application in August 2023, with the community to be notified of formal submissions later in the year. If all goes to plan, the community can expect an outcome in early 2024.

In the meantime, Elgin Energy is preparing specialist reports assessing potential impacts on the community and surrounding environment. Mitigation measures will be suggested for any potential impacts, including glint and glare, and the visual appearance of the facility in the area.

Furthermore, Elgin Energy is engaging with the community, environmental groups, and authorities to preserve the area’s natural and cultural elements. The company said it will work closely with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to prepare a Cultural Heritage Due Diligence Assessment.

Solar farms, with their clean, quiet, and unobtrusive nature, offer a sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources. As the Elaine Solar Farm proposal moves forward, it could potentially be a bright spot in Moorabool’s future.