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The Hay Sun Farm development site is located on open sheep grazing and cropping land around 6km north-east from the town of Hay in the Riverina region of south-western New South Wales.
Hay is located on the Murrumbidgee River and is a prosperous rural town, sitting on the wide and open Hay Plain. The sun farm project is being developed through a joint venture between OVERLAND and UK based solar company Island Green Power. The joining of OVERLAND and IGP brings international technology and expertise to compliment local experience and knowledge. The site was identified by OVERLAND because of its location close to the Essential Energy 132kV substation, with existing line easements adjacent to the site and large open areas of land that have been cleared for wheat production and general grazing. Hay is known for the long sunny days that occur in this region. The landowners are fully supportive of developing the site for solar energy and see "farming the sun" as a complement to farming the land. The development site for the sun farm includes large, open areas to the east of the Essential Energy Hay substation. The site is separated from the substation by native trees and grasses which will be retained to ensure that the project minimises environmental impacts on the area. The 132kV Hay to Darlington Point electricity transmission line bisects the northern and southern project areas.
An important factor in selecting the site for a sun farm was the availability of open, cleared areas that are sufficient for the construction of a solar farm with an electrical generation capacity that matches the local grid network system. The sun farm will connect to the substation along existing land easements and the site is very well serviced by road systems including the Mid-Western Highway adjacent to the southern boundary. The NSW Government has classified the Hay Sun Farm project as a State Significant Development and therefore the NSW government planning approvals process applies. OVERLAND and Island Green Power are completing all requirements under the NSW planning process. The project is also well advanced in completing connection arrangements with grid network company Essential Energy. |
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A fact sheet on the Hay Sun Farm can be downloaded here.
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