The MIA could be set to receive yet another surge of renewable energy to our power grids, with a new multi-million dollar solar farm being planned between Coleambally and Darlington Point.
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Green Tech Solar is planning to build the $6.5 million micro solar farm on leased farmland just 25 kilometres north-east of Coleambally.
The project would see 16,000 photovoltaic panels installed across an 18 hectare area, creating a farm which would output a maximum of five megawatts to the region's power grid.
Green Tech Solar project development manager Daniel Wilkinson emphasised that the farm would be much smaller than a traditional solar farm.
"It's important to not compare apples to apples and to recognise the major differences between this and a major solar farm," Mr Wilkinson said.
"While a farm like that might take up hundreds of hectares, this is only going to be on about 18."
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Mr Wilkinson said there was "a good chance" the project would go ahead, but it would depend on the outcome of the development application.
"Obviously it depends on if there are any objections, but we do a lot of research on the land and we do our due diligence preparing for these things so we definitely believe we've got a good chance of it going ahead."
The solar farm would be built on the least productive areas of the farmland, and Mr Wilkinson said the location's proximity to power lines and lack of many neighbours made it the perfect spot for the panels.
Murrumbidgee Council mayor Ruth McRae said the local council was supportive of alternative energy projects, especially when they create jobs in the region.
"It is important we play our part in helping to contribute to regional and national energy commitments," Councillor McRae said.
"Council fully supports projects that create jobs for the community as we recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and drought."
The project comes in the wake of other major solar farm works in the region, including a 1000 hectare farm just ten kilometres south of Darlington Point.
Earlier this year, Shell Energy and Edify was awarded a $3.2 billion contract to construct a 100-megawatt battery alongside the existing Darlington Point solar farm.
Cr McRae suggested the region's "climatic favourability" made it an appealing location for such farms.
The development application for the project is currently on exhibition on the Murrumbidgee Council website and will be considered by the Western Regional Planning Panel.
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