Community Information Booklet Version 2 – September 2020
thunderboltenergyhub.com.au
Joanna Murphy, Project Manager
1800 966 207 GLOBALLY EUROPE & AFRICA
Finland The company is headquartered in Paris, AMERICAS
Ireland France, and has two Australian offices – USA France in Sydney and Canberra. Mexico Portugal El Salvador
Zambia We operate across renewable energy Jamaica AUSTRALIA
Mozambique technologies including solar, wind and Ecuador Australia storage in Europe, Central America, Colombia
Africa, the Middle East and Australia. Argentina
LOCALLY
Neoen Australia began operations in DeGrussa Solar and Storage Project Western Downs 2012. Over the last seven years the Green Power Hub company has initiated the development Dubbo Solar Hub Hornsdale Wind Farms 1, 2, 3 Parkes Solar Farm of more than 1.5GW of solar and wind Hornsdale Power Reserve Griffith Solar Farm projects through organic growth, local Coleambally Solar Farm partnerships and strategic acquisitions. Bulgana Green Power Hub Numurkah Solar Farm
Neoen produce green electricity from renewable sources such as sunlight and wind using mature, tried and tested technologies. We are also leaders in energy storage.
Page 1 WORLD’S FIRST BIG BATTERY HORNSDALE POWER RESERVE
FIRST STAGE TOOK LESS THAN SIX MONTHS TO BUILD
• 150MW Lithium-ion battery located next to Hornsdale Wind Farm
• Owned and operated by Neoen
• Installed and maintained by Tesla
• Provides grid stability services
• Saved SA energy consumers over $150 million in its first two years
• Now testing grid scale inertia services in a world-first
REDUCES RISK OF BLACKOUT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Page 2 THUNDERBOLT ENERGY HUB OVERVIEW
380MW 120MW 400MW Will create wind farm solar farm battery 600+ jobs during construction
Page 3 Page 4 DELIVERING CHEAPER ENERGY FOR INDUSTRY
LAVERTON STEELWORKS VICTORIA
Laverton Steelworks have agreed to take power from Neoen's 128 MW Numurkah Solar Farm under a 15-year deal. GFG Alliance’s Executive Chairman Sanjeev Gupta said the deal would help lower energy costs at Laverton.
DEGRUSSA MINING WESTERN AUSTRALIA
DeGrussa is the largest off-grid solar battery storage project in Australia. It powers a gold and copper mine in remote WA. Commissioned in June 2016, it provides a solar and storage solution to the majority of the mine’s daytime electricity requirements, offsetting up to 20% of total diesel consumption annually.
NECTAR FARMS VICTORIA
Bulgana Green Power Hub, consisting of 196 MW of wind backed by a 20MW battery, is co-located with agri-business Nectar Farms to provide secure and affordable energy. Nectar Farms is using the latest in hydroponic glasshouse and plant technology to create a 10 hectare state of the art facility and over 130 local jobs.
Page 5 DELIVERING CHEAPER ENERGY TO RETAILERS
ENERGY AUSTRALIA COLEAMBALLY SOLAR FARM
Providing energy output of 100 MW of the 150 MW solar farm for 12 years.
SIMPLY ENERGY PARKES & GRIFFITH SOLAR FARM
Providing 100% of the energy output of the two solar farms for 13 years.
Actew AGL HORNSDALE WIND FARM
Providing 100% of the energy output of the 309 MW wind farm for 20 years.
Page 6 SITE MAP
Uralla
New England Hwy
Existing 330kV line Kentucky Rd
Kentucky
Macdonald River
Noamlimba Ave
Existing 330kV line Armidale Uralla Tamworth
WWollun Bendemeer
Sydney
Wollun Rd
Bendemeer Station Rd Woolbrook
Oxley Hwy Nerstane Rd 2km
Page 7 Page 8 PROJECT LIFECYCLE
Page 9 $200,000* ANNUALLY in local community benefits Some of the options we are investigating for community benefits:
*based on the current project size
Community benefit Possibility to invest in the Solar and battery storage fund solar farm for households
The funds would be allocated Would you like the opportunity to local community projects to invest some of your money in through a competitive annual this project and make an annual grants process. The fund could be return? administered either by Council or a local organisation
Support of local art and Tell us your ideas tourism To submit your ideas, please fill Are there any local arts or tourism out our online survey: ideas that you would like to see or www.surveymonkey.com/r/ support? neoenthunderbolt
Page 10 ECONOMIC BENEFITS
$1.01 BILLION 600+ JOBS 34-36 MONTHS 20-30 JOBS INFRASTRUCTURE CREATED DURING CONSTRUCTION CREATED DURING INVESTMENT CONSTRUCTION DURATION OPERATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
ABILITY TO PRODUCE APPROXIMATELY 1,167,2000 MWh PER YEAR WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO:
DISPLACING POWERING REMOVING PLANTING 945,400 TONNES 227,200 HOMES 316,760 CARS 9.57 MILLION TREES
OF CO2 EMISSIONS FROM THE ROAD
Page 11 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Engineering, Procurement & Construction Contractor
Electrical Civil & Mechanical Substation
Electricians Loader Trucks Land manager Electricity installation Excavator Pile Driver Equipment maintenance Electrical Trade Assistants Grader Concreters Administration Roller Pipelayers General Labour Dump Truck General Labour Watercarts Forklift and/or Telehandler
SUPPLIER OPPORTUNITIES
Goods and services we expect to be procured: Accommodation Material testing Cleaners Mechanical fitter/maintenance Crane (minor lifts) Operation and maintenance facility construction Concreters Quarry products Concrete supply (offsite supply) Septic pump out services Earthworks plant (wet and dry hire) Small equipment hire Fencing and gates Transport (minor) Food and catering service Waste management (liquid and solid) Freight Water (construction and potable) Fuel Welding & engineering fabrication (site services)
Anyone interested in working on the project, can register their interest via the ‘work with us’ page on the project website.
In the pre-construction period, we will hold a Local Employment and Supplier Networking session.
We anticipate that construction could commence in 2023 or 2024.
Page 12 COMBINING AGRICULTURE & SOLAR
After a successful three-week trial at Parkes Solar Farm in 2018, merino sheep are now being grazed under the panels at all Neoen solar farms (Parkes, Dubbo, Griffith, Coleambally, Numurkah). Neoen are working with agricultural researchers to build and share knowledge about optimising the productivity of sheep grazing under panels.
“There are no issues with sheep-grazing co-existing with solar farms. Providing you have the right breed of merino or merino-cross and get stock numbers right, I estimate that you can reach at least 80% of normal stocking rates. Plus, in areas with a lot of sun the panels provide plenty of shade for livestock. It’s an opportunity and a win-win for farmers and renewable energy producers.”
– Tom Warren Host Landowner, Dubbo Solar Farm
There are numerous other international examples of agriculture being successfully combined with solar. Neoen are investigating a number of different opportunities that could work in Australia.
Page 13 ABOUT WIND FARMS Q6. What are the advantages of taller, modern turbines? Economic: Larger turbines generate more and cheaper energy because they can access higher wind speeds at higher elevations. They also generate savings in civil and Q1. How long does it take to build a wind farm? electrical costs (foundations, roads, cables, etc.). The construction timeframe depends on the project size and the number of workers deployed on site. For a Visual: Larger turbines are spaced further apart (up to 500MW power plant, a 24-month timeframe is expected. 1,000m) and have lower rotational speeds than smaller turbines. Q2. What technology does Neoen use to build its wind Noise: Larger turbines don’t necessarily make more farms? noise than smaller turbines, due to their slower speed Neoen’s projects use premium quality wind turbines and improvements in blade design. provided by leading manufacturers. This is selected Environmental: Larger turbines require less concrete, through a competitive process for each project. All roads and cables per unit of energy generated. This components come with long warranty periods – wind reduces carbon emissions, construction traffic, and turbines are generally warrantied for 20 to 25 years. vegetation clearance. Their blades are also above the flight paths of most birds, which greatly reduces the Q3. What is the lifecycle of a wind farm? impact to avifauna. A wind farm will typically operate for between 25 and 30 years. Q7. How do you stop wind turbines impacting the landscape? Q4. How do wind turbines work? We understand that wind turbines do alter the landscape. Wind turbines are designed to convert wind into But we are committed to working with communities to mechanical energy by rotating the turbine blades. ensure our wind farms have the least possible detrimental The mechanical energy is converted into electricity via a impact on visual amenity. generator in the nacelle, which is sent directly to the grid. We encourage individuals and groups with questions The electricity generated by the turbine is proportional to about visual impact and solutions to engage with us the wind speed cubed. For example, a wind turbine in early. 8m/s wind will produce about 8 times as much electricity as a wind turbine in 4m/s wind. This is why it’s important to place turbines in high and consistently windy areas to achieve the lowest cost power generation for consumers.
Q5. How tall are the wind turbines? Wind turbines are generally 150 to 270m high (at the highest point). There’s approximately 500 to 1,000m between each turbine, but this varies between projects. Hub heights of turbines may vary between 90 to 160m. Turbines continue to grow in size each year i.e. each new turbine model is larger than its predecessor. Often during permitting, higher hub and tip heights will be requested to accommodate the next generation of machines.
Page 14 ABOUT SOLAR FARMS Q13. Will the solar panels generate glare? Improved manufacturing techniques on tier 1 panels include anti-reflective (AR) coatings on solar panels. This increases the amount of energy converted by the panels Q8. How does solar generation work? When photons of light shine on a solar panel they from sunlight. In addition, by minimising reflective losses from (or trapping more light within) solar panels, their knock electrons free on an electrical circuit and performance can be increased while costs are lowered. produce electricity. Inverters regulate the accumulation of electricity from a selection of solar panels and at Because of these innovations in AR coatings and the substation the electricity is distributed to the grid. detailed research solar panel installations are now The angle of incidence of the light ray on the panel is commonly found in airports around the world where any important in terms of the amount of energy that can be issue of glare would be highly scrutinised. For example, extracted from it. This is why installing tracking systems the Adelaide airport now has 5,000 solar panels with a that keep the panels tilted towards the sun helps capacity of 1.28 MW on the roof of the terminal and car increase the energy generation. park.
Q9. What technology does Neoen use to build its solar Q14. Will the solar array alter the landscape? farm? We understand that solar arrays do alter the visual Neoen uses similar technology to that used in residential character of an area. This is why we work with solar photovoltaic installations with the main difference communities to ensure they have the lowest possible being that panels are often mounted on systems that impact on visual amenity. track the sun through the sky. Neoen is experienced in We encourage individuals and groups with questions financing, constructing and operating solar farms and in about visual impact and solutions to engage with us all areas only engages experienced contractors with a early. proven track record. The Thunderbolt Energy Hub will Overall, we believe that emissions reductions – as well utilise premium tier 1 quality solar panels and battery as the immediate and long-term benefits that solar technology provided by leading manufacturers. farms bring to communities – offset some loss of visual Neoen’s projects use premium quality panels and amenity. inverters provided by leading manufacturers. This is selected through a competitive process for each project. Q15. How is any potential fire risk managed? All components come with long warranty periods and There is very minimal fire risk associated with photovoltaic performance guarantees. panels or solar farms. There is also a cleared vegetation zone around the Q10. How long does it take to build a solar farm? edges of the solar farms to prevent fire spreading. This is The construction timeframe depends on the project size complemented by a strict vegetation management plan. and the number of workers deployed on site. For a 100 MW power plant, an 8 to 12-month timeframe is typical, with a peak construction period of 2 to 3 months.
Q11. What is the life cycle of a solar farm? A solar farm will typically operate for between 25 and 30 years. Tier 1 solar panels generally come with a 25- year manufacturer’s warranty. Depending on the local environment, they can generate electricity for 30 years or more with only about 0.5% efficiency loss each year.
Q12. How high are solar panels? Generally speaking solar panels have a dimension of 1m x 2m. Rows of solar panels are usually 30, 60 or 90 meter long. And rows of panels are separated by 5 to 7 meters. However, this varies from project to project. Wide spacing reduces shadowing on the panels in the early morning and late afternoon, and also allows the land to continue to be used for sheep grazing.
Page 15 the electricity grid. This includes construction and maintenance costs for the life of the project.
Q20. Does Neoen require government subsidies to build its projects? Neoen does not require government subsidies to finance its projects. We finance our projects through a combination of our own equity and long-term bank loans. However, we sometimes enter into agreements with governments or businesses to sell the power produced by our projects.
Q21. Who assesses the projects? All Neoen projects meet strict State and Federal Government regulations and are assessed under these regulations. We work closely with governments to ECONOMY ensure we meet all legal requirements and exceed these requirements wherever possible.
Q16. Do renewable projects benefit the Australian and Q22. What happens when the project ends? local economy? At the end of a project life cycle, the turbines and solar Each project benefits the local community by creating panels are removed and the site is rehabilitated. employment. At Neoen’s Coleambally Solar Farm 300 people were employed locally during the construction This is a commitment we make to the landholders and the State government, which is in the development phase and five are indirectly employed locally in full- time positions during operations. Neoen provides approval and our contract with the host landholders. opportunities for local contractors to submit tenders After the assets are removed, most of the materials are and local jobseekers to seek employment by hosting reclaimed or recycled. This is because the steel, copper, a series of contractor sessions in the local area prior lithium and other materials they are made of retain to any construction commencing. In addition, Neoen significant value. establishes a community fund for each solar farm to support community group projects. Q23. Do wind or solar farms cause property values to decrease? Q17. How much do renewables cost compared with Neoen fully appreciates that for most households, their other energy sources? home is their primary asset and that factors which may The current cost of wholesale energy is $80-$100 per affect its value are of deep significance. Accordingly, the MWh on average. This comprises of existing coal, company takes concerns regarding property values very existing gas and renewable energy. The wholesale cost seriously. of large-scale renewable energy is considerably lower However, Neoen is not aware of, and has not been than this at approximately $40 per MWh. presented with, any reliable, impartial research or The wholesale costs of the individual sources of evidence which establishes a correlation between real generation in 2020 are: estate values and proximity to renewable infrastructure. Anecdotally, property values around several of our sites • Existing coal: approximately $30-$60 per megawatt hour have increased. • New large-scale renewables: approximately $40 per The most recent and relevant study carried out in MWh Australia was commissioned by the NSW Office of • Gas generation: approximately $120 per megawatt Environment and Heritage and published by planning hour; and consultancy Urbis in July 2016. This report comprised • New coal: approximately $90+ per megawatt hour both an analysis of available sales data and a ‘literature review’ of Australian and international studies (including Q18. Who pays for any road upgrades required? a 2009 report prepared for the NSW Valuer-General’s Neoen pays for any upgrades to State or Local office). Its conclusions are most easily understood when Government or landowner roads required for transporting divided into ‘agricultural’ and ‘lifestyle’ land. wind turbine components to site. If we damage roads, Whilst property values are influenced by a range of we will pay for repairs. factors and it is therefore difficult to determine if solar farms (or other similar infrastructure) can cause land Q19. Who will pay for any electrical transmission values on neighbouring agriculture properties to increase upgrades required? or decrease, it is not expected that the Thunderbolt Neoen pays for any electrical transmission upgrades Energy Hub would affect the productivity of neighbouring necessary to connect and operate the project in agricultural properties.
Page 16 HEALTH AND CULTURE strict noise limits. These limits are designed to ensure that noise from a wind farm is not intrusive for the average person. Q24. Are there any health risks associated with wind farms or solar farms? Q26. Can noise from solar farms affect local residents? There are nearly 200,000 wind turbines installed Solar farms create only very slight audible noise during worldwide — many of them in more densely populated operations (from the inverters). areas close to houses. People in nearby dwellings will not be able to hear it. Some 17 reviews of research literature from these leading health and research organisations concluded Q27. Will the project reduce air quality? there is no published evidence linking wind turbines with Monitoring dust levels during construction is a basic adverse health effects: requirement of each project. We use dust suppression measures wherever possible. • World Health Organisation • Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Dust-generating activities are assessed during windy Centre conditions and are stopped and rescheduled if adequate • UK Health Protection Agency control of dust levels cannot be achieved. • US National Research Council All machinery is checked during site inspections and Solar panels are placed on more than 25% of Australian daily pre-start checks. This ensures all machinery has homes, and have been on homes across the world for appropriate emission control devices, is in good working the past 15 years. order, and is maintained correctly. No health issues have been associated with solar panels, and the Goyder Renewables Zone will use the Q28. Is cultural heritage taken into consideration? same type of technology. Neoen complies with all legislation, including laws regarding the protection of cultural heritage. A cultural heritage assessment forms part of initial studies as does Q25. Can wind turbine noise affect local residents? consultation with local Indigenous groups to ensure Before it can operate, a wind farm has to demonstrate cultural heritage is protected. that noise levels at neighbouring residences will meet
Page 17 ENVIRONMENT Solar There is also some indications that in dry areas on solar sites, condensation and run-off from the solar panels may support a higher growth rate of feed along the panel Q29. Do wind farms or solar panels impact flora and rows. fauna? We engage specialist consultants for detailed flora and We also own and operate the Coleambally, Griffith, fauna surveys to determine the ecological attributes of and Parkes solar farms on multiple properties in NSW, the land. as well as Numurkah in Victoria. We have conducted a successful sheep grazing trial at Parkes Solar Farm On all of our projects, we aim to minimise the impact and sheep are now grazing on all of our operating solar on flora and fauna by designing projects outside areas farms. of high conservation significance, and adopting control measures during construction. Q31. Do wind farms harm birds? During the detailed design, wind turbines will be micro- While wind farms are sometimes said to threaten birds, sited to minimise the potential impact on fauna habitat. an energy governance study completed in Singapore Turbine heights will be selected to minimise the overlap has shown that wind farms harm 17 times fewer birds between rotor swept area and bird flight heights. per unit of electricity produced than fossil fuel generation. Other mitigation measures include: Studies show that wind farms are probably responsible • preparing management plans for impacting birds at rates that are: • identifying ‘no-go zones’ within the project site • 400 times fewer than cars • conducting pre-clearance surveys • 500 times fewer than pesticides We also consult with government departments of • 1200 times fewer than high-tension wires environment and biodiversity throughout development, Larger, modern turbines have blades that are well above construction and operation of projects, as well as local the flight paths of the vast majority of birds. non-government organisations. The main exception is raptors, and we carry out detailed nest surveys and place generous buffers of 1 to 2km Q30. Do wind turbines or solar panels affect farm or around any viable nest that is found. There is also domestic animals? evidence to suggest that raptors adjust to the presence Wind of turbines and will avoid the blades. We built and operate the Hornsdale Wind Farm across numerous properties near Jamestown in South Australia. Stock, including sheep and cattle, take a couple of days to get used to wind turbines, then are very comfortable with them. They rub up against turbines and use the shade from the towers during summer.
Page 18 thunderboltenergyhub.com.au
Joanna Murphy, Project Manager [email protected]
1800 966 207