The government of New South Wales, Australia, has unveiled a fresh planning framework for large-scale renewable energy projects with the goal of simplifying planning processes.
Yesterday, on the 12th of November, the state government introduced the recently unveiled Renewable Energy Planning Framework. This framework offers a comprehensive set of guidelines and tools to enhance initiatives aimed at increasing the adoption of clean energy in the state.
Within the revised framework are several fresh guidelines, including the ‘Large-scale Solar Energy Guideline’ specifically tailored for solar PV. This category features updates to current guidelines, offers further insights on decommissioning, and integrates additional elements into the updated framework.
The government has unveiled five new guidelines focused on solar PV, wind energy, transmission, benefit sharing, and private agreements. These guidelines were crafted in response to growing demands from local communities for enhanced clarity and transparency regarding the evaluation and management of projects throughout their lifespans.
The New South Wales government anticipates that these fresh guidelines will play a crucial role in bolstering its Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, which was initially launched in 2020. The roadmap aims to facilitate the development of 12GW of additional solar PV and wind generation within the state over a span of 20 years.
Penny Sharpe, the New South Wales minister for climate change and energy, underscored the significance of the updated guidelines, highlighting that “establishing a clear and transparent planning framework will lay the foundation for a dependable and sustainable energy system.”
Paul Scully, the New South Wales minister for planning and public spaces, further commented, “Enhanced certainty and transparency in the evaluation of renewable energy processes lead to accelerated renewable energy deployment, reduced electricity costs, and increased job opportunities. This also ensures that both communities and industries have a clear understanding of the planning system’s expectations.”
The Large-scale Solar Energy Guideline
The 63-page Large-scale Solar Energy Guideline was created to facilitate the expansion of the solar PV sector in New South Wales. It assists developers in choosing project locations in regions with minimized risks of land use conflicts, environmental repercussions, and community disturbances.
Furthermore, the guideline offers uniform direction on evaluating and quantifying the primary environmental and social effects of large-scale solar PV initiatives. This aids in enhancing the caliber of proposed projects and diminishing evaluation delays.
The guideline is relevant to large-scale solar PV projects designated as either state significant or critical state significant infrastructure according to the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 in New South Wales. State significant projects typically necessitate development approval, involve a capital investment exceeding AU$30 million (US$19.5 million), or entail a capital investment surpassing AU$10 million while being situated within an environmentally delicate area of state importance.
Conversely, critical state significant infrastructure projects are designated by the government and are frequently deemed crucial due to economic, environmental, or social considerations. In addition to a scoring mechanism detailed in the ‘Declaration of SSI and CSSI – State Significant Infrastructure Guide,’ the government has the authority to categorize an application as a critical state significant infrastructure project if it incorporates a “substantial energy storage system.” For instance, the solar energy guideline cites a 750MW/1,500MWh or larger battery energy storage system (BESS) as an illustration.
It is important to highlight that a large-scale solar PV project, not classified as state significant, would fulfill the requirements if it integrates a BESS capable of delivering over 30MW of power or is situated on a floodplain and comprises a solar PV power plant of 30MW or greater.
Nevertheless, these directives do not pertain to large-scale solar PV ventures employing alternative technologies like concentrated thermal systems or lens concentrators. Such technologies are anticipated to present distinct challenges in terms of site selection and impact evaluation.
Decommissioning and rehabilitation
An essential element of the updated guideline focuses on the decommissioning and restoration procedures for when a solar PV power station reaches the conclusion of its operational lifespan. The guideline emphasizes that large-scale solar PV initiatives can have extended operational durations if the solar modules undergo refurbishment or upgrades periodically.
Upon reaching the conclusion of its operational lifespan, a project owner faces various choices. They may opt to substitute the solar PV modules with newer technology, a process contingent upon landholder agreements, planning permissions, and equipment specifications. Alternatively, the owner could decide to decommission the project, dismantling the solar modules and related infrastructure.
Should the owner opt for the latter choice, the land must be restored to its original or agreed-upon purpose. If the land was previously utilized for agricultural purposes, it must be reverted to its former Land and Social Capability (LSC) class. Following the cessation of operations on the premises, the project site must undergo restoration within 18 months and meet the approval of the planning secretary.
Project owners are also required to notify landholders hosting project infrastructure about the intended decommissioning strategy for the project.
