The Corop Solar Farm project is an innovative initiative that contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the transition towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy system in Victoria.
The Corop Solar Farm is a 440MW solar project located in central Victoria, Australia. The solar farm will comprise approximately 1,193,000 solar panels, and it will provide 400MW of clean renewable energy into the power grid. Additionally, the project includes the development of a 400MW/800MWh Battery Energy Storage System, which will provide additional benefits by allowing the farm to feed into the grid at times of low sunshine and outside daylight hours.
The solar farm is situated on a 1099 ha agricultural site, which was historically used for grazing and cropping.
The site was chosen due to its well-suited characteristics, enabling a layout that was designed to avoid all native vegetation. The site’s ecological value was preserved in its entirety.”
Tim Doolan
Our team worked closely with the Leeson Group to secure development approval for the Corop Solar Farm project through Council and State planning processes. Due to a recent change in the legislated assessing authority for solar farm development approvals in Victoria, the team had to prepare suitable assessments and application material. Our team drew from our experience working within relevant government departments, to prepare a suitable application to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, which helped to streamline the assessment process.
The site of the solar farm is on the traditional lands of the Taungurung people. A Cultural Heritage Management Plan was developed to guide the care of the Country.
The project is expected to have a lifespan of up to 40 years, with local employment benefits throughout the construction and operation phases. The construction of the project is expected to take around 24 months.
Contact Tim Doolan to learn more about planning and approval of large-scale renewable energy projects
