CIMIC Group’s Pacific Partnerships has been awarded the contract to develop the 700mW renewable energy Cobbora Solar Farm and large-scale battery energy storage system in NSW.
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Pacific Partnerships, through its energy business, will develop, invest in, and manage delivery as well as operations of the solar farm and storage system that is located across a 3000-hectare site near Dubbo. Once developed, the farm will become on the largest solar farms in Australia, according to CIMIC Group.
“CIMIC is committed to Australia’s energy transition and is developing the large-scale renewable generation assets and infrastructure required to support it,” said CIMIC Group Executive Chairman, Juan Santamaria.
“NSW is part of our strategic new energy focus as we expand our diversified national portfolio of assets and contribute to the Australian Government’s commitments to reach net zero emissions by 2050.”
The project is located 55km east of Dubbo on mostly cleared grazing land and is being designed with minimal long-term disruption to the land. An Environmental Impact Statement for the Cobbora Solar Farm is due to be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) in late 2024, before being placed on public exhibition for community and stakeholder feedback.
Fellow CIMIC Group company, UGL, will undertake early works, develop the project solution, and provide operation and maintenance services once completed.
“The solar farm will have the potential to generate enough clean, renewable energy to power approximately 280,000 average-sized homes,” said UGL Managing Director, Doug Moss, “and it includes an area that can accommodate up to 1600MWh of BESS to supply energy on demand.”
The Cobbora Solar Farm will connect to the national network via infrastructure to be delivered by EnergyCo NSW as part of the CWO REZ.