Mainstream Renewable Power and Someva Renewables awarded a 500 MW investigative permit for an onshore wind farm in New South Wales
Mainstream Renewable Power (“Mainstream”), the global pure-play renewable energy company, and Someva Renewables (“Someva”), an Australia-based renewable energy developer, have been awarded a permit by the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales to jointly investigate an onshore windfarm at Sunny Corner with a potential capacity of approximately 500 MW.
The Sunny Corner project, a joint venture between Mainstream and Someva, was awarded the permit following a 15-month competitive tender and selection process. The project would be one of the first wind farms to be hosted in a New South Wales State Plantation Forest.
The proposed wind farm will be located within the Sunny Corner State Forest, approximately halfway between Lithgow and Bathurst and 200 kilometres from Sydney. The project is situated on Wiradjuri country, and across the Lithgow City and Bathurst Regional Council areas. When fully operational, it could power an estimated 300,000 NSW homes and save over 1 million tonnes of carbon from being released each year.
The next investigative stages include the installation of a met mast alongside consultation with local communities, First Nations people, forest users, councils and businesses to understand the local environment and co-design the community benefits program. Following these stages, the project would progress through the normal development process seeking planning approvals from the New South Wales Government.
Throughout the development, construction and operations of the wind project, the Sunny Corner State Forest would remain accessible for forestry users, and recreational activities.
Much of Sunny Corner State Forest is used for industrial softwood production by the state-owned Forestry Corporation. The pine plantations are well-suited for wind farms as they offer large areas in windy locations, with access to powerlines and an existing road network.
Mainstream’s Group CEO Mary Quaney said, “We applaud the vision of Forestry Corporation in seeking to diversify their land use to support the renewable energy transition, and we recognise the important role that Sunny Corner Wind Farm could play in NSW’s energy transition, providing clean, affordable and reliable power.”
Someva Managing Director, Jamie Chivers said, “Sunny Corner Wind Farm is a milestone project for NSW and an example of how innovative renewable energy developments can help strengthen regional prosperity.”
“Similar wind farms are in operation in forests around the world and Someva partnered with Mainstream because of their experience in developing similar wind farms overseas. We are excited to be working on this project with Mainstream. We look forward to meeting local communities, First Nations people, forestry users and local interests groups to understand how we can incorporate their feedback into the proposed project,” said Mr Chivers.
“Someva’s co-design process means we are committed to engaging with and listening to the local community on the design of the Sunny Corner Wind Farm. We’re looking forward to community consultation beginning in May when our team will visit Portland and we encourage all locals to visit us then to learn more about the project. This process also aims to provide locals with opportunities to provide input into the design of the community benefits of the wind farm, by understanding how the long-term economic and social benefits of the project can be shared with community and First Nations groups,” said Mr Chivers.
Anshul Chaudhary, CEO of the Forestry Corporation of NSW said, “We are delighted to have awarded a permit to Mainstream and Someva to investigate a wind farm in Sunny Corner State Forest. After a highly competitive tender process, this will be one of four wind farms to be investigated in a NSW State softwood plantation.”
The permits are the first to be awarded after NSW Parliament passed amendments to the Forestry Act 2012 allowing State Forests to host renewable energy projects in 2021.
For media interviews with Someva Renewables’ Managing Director Jamie Chivers contact:
Chris Williams, 0480 386 879, chris@kaizenco.au
