It turns out that with solar panels, even the grass is greener during a drought.
That's the experience of Dubbo grazier Tom Warren, who says condensation dripping off the panels arrayed across 55 hectares of his farm provided a moisture source that was the envy of neighbours.
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| Sheep and solar mix well, Mr Warren said, with condensation from the panel providing extra grass for his flock during the drought. Credit: Janie Barrett |
The Berejiklian government is relying on the good word of such landholders to help accelerate the roll-out of large-scale wind and solar, particularly in its three designated renewable energy zones.
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| Tom Warren, a farmer whose land hosts a solar farm near Dubbo, says more renewables will help revive regional economies. Credit: Janie Barrett |
So strong was the response, Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean said, that "there's absolutely room to increase the capacity". The other two zones, in New England and the Riverina, are also likely to attract strong interest.
Some 450 jobs would be created in the first zone based on the 3000MW goal, drawing in new industries, Mr Kean said.
"It will see Dubbo and the Central West become the powerhouse of NSW and the powerhouse of our nation," he predicted. "It's a win for NSW, delivering cheap, clean energy."
Deputy Premier and Nationals leader John Barilaro, who has often advocated coal and gas over renewables, has lately been more supportive of the jobs wind and solar farms can bring to rural communities.
"We need to build diversity in our local economies," Mr Barilaro said at the Dubbo solar farm.
"The ability for a landholder to have a solar farm or have wind turbines ... gives him off-farm income," he said. "It means you can future-proof the regions."
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| Deputy NSW Premier John Barilaro (left) with Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders and Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean (right), at the South Keswick solar farm near Dubbo. Credit: Janie Barrett |
"We want to work with you," Mr Kean. "We want to get the balance right between our state's energy needs and also to support the agricultural production that we rely so heavily on from this region."
Mr Warren said he would welcome visitors to his farm, run by France-based renewables developer Neoen, if they needed reassurance about the benefits of clean energy.
“It’s tremendous,” Mr Warren said of the potential for renewable energy’s growth. “This can drive the decentralisation of industry — this to me is the future of regional Australia.”
Potential Priority Energy Zones identified by NSW government  |
Falling costs of renewables and storage meant they were becoming more competitive against new coal and gas plants and were closing in on existing coal plants. "Average wholesale power prices in Australia are about $70-$90," Mr Heron said. "We'd be looking at two-thirds of that in terms of firmed power [involving both renewables and batteries]."
The company already has 1.3GW of capacity in Australia, making the country Neoen's biggest single market. That tally will pass 2GW within 18 months even before any new Central West projects start.
"It's a great time to be in this sector," Mr Heron said. "This is the tipping point."
Links
- Farming under solar panels saves water and creates energy
- Why solar stacks up for farmers
- Farmer's Guide to Going Solar
- A New Vision for Farming: Chickens, Sheep, and ... Solar Panels
- Time to accelerate renewable energy adoption on our farms
- Farmers for Climate Action
- Promising future for renewable energy in Australian agribusiness
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