THE first of the district’s solar electricity facilities is anticipated to be operating by March.
Around 100 employees have spent the past four months installing infrastructure as part of the first stage of the Gannawarra Solar Farm project.
More than 100 people took the opportunity to tour the Kerang-Lalbert Road property last Wednesday – the first chance the public had to visit the 132-hectare site.
Such was the intrigue with the project, a gathering to mark the tour occurred at the Kerang Memorial Hall rather than the original location of the Sandhill Lake Fire Brigade headquarters.
Representatives from the three companies involved in the project – Edify Energy, RCR and Wirsol – led three bus tours, which enabled participants to see the infrastructure that has so far been installed on-site.
Around 1000 kilometres of cabling will be laid by the time the current develop is operational, with 25,000 posts driven into the ground to accommodate the 170,000 solar panels.
Once stage one is completed, the facility will produce enough solar electricity to power 15,000 homes.
Planning and financial discussion in relation to stage two of the project are progressing, with all parties involved in the project aiming for construction to begin sometime this year.
“Renewable energy is a key focus of council, mainly for diversifying industries, promoting economic development, building council’s rate base and increase employment opportunities,” Gannawarra Shire Council economic manager, Roger Griffiths said.
“We are particularly proud of the work we have put in so far, but we are not done yet.
“The Gannawarra Solar Farm is one of seven solar projects occurring within the Gannawarra Shire, and we hope the completion of this project is the start of a diverse renewable energy sector in and around Kerang.”
