Wirsol gets approval for 235MW / 230MWh NSW hybrid project as it eyes greater flexibility services

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Once constructed, the site will allow dual land use activities, with sheep grazing planned on site. Image: Wirsol.

Germany solar developer Wirsol Energy has received development approval for its Maryvale solar and energy storage project in New South Wales (NSW) by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

Located near to the city of Dubbo, the co-located project will consist of roughly 235MW of solar PV, combined with 190MWh – 270MWh of energy storage in the form of a lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS).

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The project has now received planning approval and has submitted a grid connection request. It is expected to start construction in late 2023, with commercial operations beginning in early 2025. It will also employ dual land use methods with sheep grazing planned for the site post construction.

Wirsol said “huge changes” to Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM), which sees transitional arrangements put in place to allow the registration process to occur for projects which combine renewable energy generation with energy storage, allows renewable energy generators to evolve into hybrid plants, which are more suited to Australia’s energy demands.

“The pairing means that the plant’s output into the grid is fully controllable, ensuring stability of supply whilst allowing it to bid into markets previously unavailable to variable renewable energy plants,” Wirsol said in a statement.

Elected to power in May, Australia’s new Labor government has formally raised the country’s 2030 emissions reduction target to 43% below 2005 levels – up on the previous government’s goal to slash emissions by 26-28% – as it aims to increase renewables penetration in the National Electricity Market (NEM) to 82% by 2030.

PV Tech Premium has examined what the election results means for the country’s solar sector as the country’s new government vows to unlock renewables investment, upgrade the grid and bring federal policy more in line with states and territories.

And, just last week, the Australian federal government proposed legislation that will lock-in Australia’s commitment to achieve net zero by 2050 as well as providing greater oversight and accountability over progress on climate change in a sharp departure from the previous administration.

Read Next

February 14, 2025
Muswellbrook Shire Council in New South Wales, Australia, has backed a solar module recycling mandate for a 135MW solar PV plant being developed by Swedish solar developer OX2.
February 13, 2025
Australia’s Clean Energy Council said 2024 was the best year for renewable energy investment since 2018, with AU$9 billion committed.
February 11, 2025
A round-up of last week's news from China, including UtmoLight, the Mingyang Smart Energy Group and Leapting.
February 11, 2025
AEMO has said that, at the end of 2024, the connections pipeline for Australia's NEM stood at 49.6GW, up 36% year-on-year.
February 10, 2025
South Australia-based solar PV developer Green Gold Energy has received consent from the South Australian government for a 200MW solar-plus-storage site.
February 6, 2025
Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia has submitted a 250MW solar-plus-BESS site in New South Wales to the Australian government’s EPBC Act.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
February 17, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
February 19, 2025
Tokyo, Japan
Solar Media Events
March 11, 2025
Frankfurt, Germany