Three years after operation began at the Nevertire Solar Far, developers Elliot Green Power are looking to expand, having submitted a project proposal to the Department of Planning and Environment (DPIE) that would allow the company to install a Battery Energy Storage System on the adjacent lot. 

According to the proposal the proposed battery energy storage system facility would have a capacity of up to 50 megawatts of power with energy storage of 100 megawatt hours. 

Warren Shire Council Mayor Milton Quigley said that with the success the solar farm has seen so far, it’s difficult to find any opposition in its expansion. 

“The most benefit was during the construction phase when significant numbers of people were employed; I think it really did help a lot of the local businesses at the time because we were in drought,” Mayor Quigley said. 

“It really helped to give the retail spaces, supermarkets, petrol stations and food venues enough to keep going,” he said.

If successful, the battery system will consist of up to 40 shipping container style storage packs which will use lithium or similar technology. 

The proposed infrastructure would include battery storage containers, converters, outdoor lighting, control building and a security system.

According to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), coupling batteries with renewable energy generation allows that energy to be stored during times of low demand and released (or dispatched) at times of peak demand.

After having opened submissions on the project to the public - to which only one was made, being Walgett Shire Council - the DPIE will assess the project before approval.

Given how smoothly the Nevertire project has progressed so far, the Warren Shire Council is eager for similar projects to come to the area, but current infrastructure has hindered any progress. 

“There is a renewable energy zone, but it is fairly further east of us. We’d love to see that renewable energy zone extended out this way given there is significant available land,” Mr Quigley said.

Opened in 2019, the solar farm location - much like many others in neighbouring communities - was chosen for its proximity to the Essential Energy infrastructure that runs between Dubbo and Nyngan. 

However, the current infrastructure means that only so much renewable energy can be fed back into a grid that was designed to distribute electricity rather than collect it. 

It’s an issue that has halted local solar farm proposals before, in Warren and surrounding districts. 

“The difficulty would appear to be that the transmission supply lines can’t handle significantly more solar farms out this way,” Mr Quigley said. 

He believes that with land to spare, local communities like Cobar - who use a significant amount of energy on mining - could see a lot of benefit from more solar farms.

The project has various stages of assessment before any approval will be rewarded.