General News
20 November, 2024
Victorian Premier announces $370 million SEC Renewable Energy Park in Horsham
Premier Jacinta Allan launches renewable energy park in Horsham.
A facility capable of generating enough energy to power Horsham five times over was announced by the Victorian Premier this week.
Premier Jacinta Allan was in Horsham on Wednesday, November 20, alongside State Electricity Commission minister Lily D'Ambrosio to launch a project to build a renewable energy park in Riverside.
"We're here today to talk about how our government is continuing to build for the future, whether we're building the homes and transport infrastructure our city and state needs," the Premier said.
"Particularly with a focus on building the renewable renewable energy projects, our growing city and state needs."
The project hopes to accelerate Victoria's energy transition to deliver renewable, affordable, reliable energy for all Victorians.
"It's an absolute cracking project," Ms Allan said.
"It's a massive project, and it's going to make a big contribution to the renewable energy generation here in our state."
The project will cost $370 million, with it made possible through an investment from the SEC.
Developed in partnership between the state electricity commission and renewable energy specialists OX2, the project will be able to power 51,000 homes, and create 246 jobs during construction.
"[Power to support a city] the size of Bendigo can be generated off a renewable energy project of this size and scale," the Premier said.
Originally known as the Horsham Solar Farm, the energy park will have more than 212,000 solar panels with a total capacity of 119 megawatts.
It will be able to generate 242,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy a year and with a 100 megawatt two hour battery, it will be able to grab hold of solar energy during the day and put it into the network at peak times.
The project will also be the first 100 per cent government-owned energy generation project since the SEC was privatised in the 1990's.
The energy park will be built on farm land at the corner of Lubeck-Murtoa and Riverside East roads, adjacent to the Horsham Terminal Station.
Neighbouring landowners were present at the launch event.
The project is planned to first supply electricity to the power grid in mid 2026 while it is scheduled to be complete in late 2027.
The Horsham renewable energy park is the second project the SEC had invested in since the state government revived the company, following Melbourne renewable energy hub which will support 200,000 homes at peak periods.
"[These projects are] an investment in people and investment in renewable energy for our growing city in the state," Ms Allan.
"That's why we're building for the future, with the SEC to support jobs, to drive down energy bills, and also most importantly, drive those renewable energy projects we know we need."
Minister D'Ambrosio said that with these projects, the SEC is celebrating a milestone that is about accelerating the renewable energy transition.
"In November 2022, the Victorian people voted overwhelmingly to bring back the SEC ...we've not wasted a single day in doing just that," she said.
By accelerating the development of renewable energy, Ms D'Ambrosio said the SEC will be bringing down energy costs for consumers.
"We are actually creating more cheap renewable electricity that puts downward pressure on people's prices, people's bills," she said.