On an annual basis, the Broken Hill Solar Plant will produce enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 19,000 average Australian homes.
Broken Hill Solar Plant was one of two large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants delivered by AGL in 2015, jointly funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the NSW Government.
The 53 MW solar plant is expected to generate approximately 126,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of clean, renewable electricity each year.
It will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 103,710 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per annum, assuming a rate of 0.84 tonnes per MWh of electricity. Particulate and heavy metal emissions will also be reduced.
Location
Broken Hill has one of the highest levels of solar radiation in NSW, making it an ideal location for a solar plant. Plus, with a large local population and several industrial sites nearby, there is significant demand for electrical power in the region.
The site sits about 5 km southwest of the Broken Hill township, adjacent to Willyama Common. An existing substation is nearby, enabling relatively efficient connection into the electrical grid.
The solar plant occupies approximately 140 hectares of Crown Land bounded by the Barrier Highway to the north and the Peterborough-Broken Hill rail line to the south, and administered by the NSW Department Primary Industries, Lands and Water.
