The site for the Goorambat solar farm, with the high voltage power lines in the background.
The new 250 megawatt Goorambat solar farm will take advantage of the nearby high voltage power line, running from Shepparton to Dederang.
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Initial road construction work started on the site south of Goorambat just a few weeks ago, after French owner, ENGIE, announced final approvals had been obtained.
The project is huge, using more than half a million solar panels.
The company hopes to start generation from the site in 2027.
Landholder agreements with five local families have been signed for the 630 hectare site on grazing and cropping land, according to Laura Caspari, the group’s Australian renewables managing director.
“Once completed ... the solar farm could generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 105,000 average Victorian homes, helping to bolster energy security in the state,” Ms Caspari said.
The project, near the Goorambat-Chesney Rd and Spinks Lane area, is expected to be completed in 2026. ENGIE acquired the project from company, Neoen, last year.
“The solar farm will make the most of an excellent solar resource and existing transmission infrastructure,” Ms Caspari said.
“And the project’s footprint has been optimised to incorporate expert advice, community input and guidance from authorities captured over years of best-practice engagement.”
About 250 jobs are expected to be added during construction and ENGIE has previously announced a community benefit fund of $75,000 per year and energy bill rebates of up to $1000 for nearby neighbours over the life of the project.
The project has an expected life of about 35 years.
ENGIE has permission to remove up to 60 native trees across the sites, but will be planting native species as an offset.
Sheep could be run on pastures around the solar panels.
The occasion marks ENGIE’s return as an energy producer in Victoria, having closed its coal-fired Hazelwood plant in 2017 and selling its stake in the Loy Yang B plant the same year.
“We are genuinely thrilled, as ENGIE, to be putting megawatts on the ground in Victoria,” corporate affairs head Ryan Auger told AAP.
“Since we divested and closed those assets, we’ve been looking for opportunities to re-establish our credentials in what is essentially a foothold state for us.”
The company’s retail energy business has around 390,000 Victorian customers.
ENGIE is still the licence-holder on the Hazelwood mine and plant site, and plans to rehabilitate the mine into a full pit lake are before the state planning department.
“There’s a fairly comprehensive process on the planning and regulatory side," Mr Auger said, adding community consultation on the plan was ongoing.
“We expect it will be probably the next year, year and a half, before we reach the next milestone.”
Residents with questions about the solar farm can contact ENGIE on 1800 845 067 or email goorambatsolarfarm.au@engie.com
Goorambat town in the background of the roadworks on the Goorambat-Chesney Rd. The road will be closed, while the seal is extended to 6.2 metres wide to accommodate trucks accessing the site.
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