WWF-Australia’s Post

Over the last few months there has been a lot of public focus on environmental approvals for renewable energy projects. We have heard a lot of conflicting numbers and narratives around how renewable energy approvals processes are either slowing the transition, or not working well enough and moving too fast. To have a well-informed debate about the roll of environmental approvals processes in the energy transition we need good evidence, not just anecdotes, on what has actually been happening across different state and federal jurisdictions. That is why I am excited to be partnering through WWF-Australia with Dr. Thomas Longden and his team at the Urban Transformations Centre at the University of Western Sydney on this project to look more closely at the environmental approvals and assessment processes for renewable energy. I look forward to seeing the data come through and talking through its implications so that we can have strong environmental laws that work efficiently and consistently and provide the adequate guardrails to ensure we see a fast, best and just energy transition.

Balancing Speed and Scrutiny in Victorian Renewable Energy Approvals In an insightful article by Danielle Pope from ABC Gippsland, the complexities of fast-tracking renewable energy projects in Victoria are explored. 1. Conflict Between Urgency and Oversight: The Development Facilitation Program (DFP) prioritises speed over scrutiny, risking insufficiently vetted projects and community resistance. The urgent need for renewable energy clashes with oversight principles. Adaptive management and alternative dispute resolution can balance rapid development with necessary oversight. 2. Community Trust and Social Licence: Fast-tracking projects without robust consultation risks losing local support and facing opposition. Trust through inclusive, transparent processes is crucial for success. Enhancing community engagement and transparent decision-making are key to gaining and maintaining social licence. 3. Legal and Ethical Implications: Exempting Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) appeals creates a legal grey area, undermining accountability. Mechanisms for affected parties to voice concerns are essential for legal integrity. Streamlined appeal processes and legal reforms can enable expedited yet accountable reviews. 4. Balancing Development with Environmental Stewardship: Rapid renewable deployment must balance with preserving environmental and aesthetic values. Effective mitigation like landscape screening and ecological assessments reduce impacts. Comprehensive site selection and rigorous impact assessments ensure responsible development. 5. Policy Innovation and Flexibility: Innovative policies are needed for expedited yet accountable approvals. Policy innovation harmonises urgency with community and environmental concerns. Flexible timelines for public consultation and community input without delays are essential. 6. Economic and Energy Security: Fast-tracking renewable projects ensures economic stability and energy security as coal plants close. Rapid development fills the energy gap, maintaining stable, affordable supply. Prioritizing projects offering economic and security benefits while meeting standards is crucial. 7. Long-Term Land Use Planning: Renewable development intersects with agricultural and residential land use, needing long-term planning. Multi-use land strategies harmonise energy needs with community and agricultural interests. Land use policies considering future conflicts and promoting sustainability are important. 8. Global Best Practices: Learning from global best practices offers insights for balancing rapid development with engagement. Successful projects use comprehensive planning, collaboration, and adaptive management. Adopting best practices from other countries and tailoring them locally improves implementation. Balancing the urgency of renewable energy development with community engagement, legal integrity, and environmental stewardship is crucial for a sustainable and successful transition.

The Australian Government has approved plans for SunCable’s Australia-Asia Power Link solar farm project in the Northern Territory. The Australia-Asia Power Link solar project was assessed and approved by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC). “This massive project is a generation-defining piece of infrastructure,” said Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water. “It will be the largest solar precinct in the world – and heralds Australia as the world leader in green energy." The Australia-Asia Power Link project is being set up to be the largest solar farm in Australia and is expected to generate up to 6 GW of renewable energy, including 4 GW to be used in Darwin and for potential export to Singapore. “SunCable is pleased to receive Commonwealth Government approval under the EPBC Act, following four years of extensive assessment and public consultation with stakeholders around Australia,” said SunCable Australia’s Managing Director, Cameron Garnsworthy. “SunCable will now focus its efforts on the next stage of planning to advance the project towards a Final Investment Decision targeted by 2027.” The latest approval follows last month’s environmental approval granted by the Northern Territory Government and NT Environment Protection Authority for the ambitious solar project. SunCable estimates the project will deliver more than A$20 billion ($13.4 billion) in economic value to the Northern Territory and support an average of 6,800 direct and indirect jobs for each year of the construction phase, with a peak workforce of 14,300. The approval comes with strict conditions to protect nature including requirements to completely avoid important species like the Greater Bilby and critical habitat. The 12,000 hectare solar farm project is located on a pastoral station between Elliot and Tennant Creek. The approval also includes an 800km transmission line to Darwin and an underwater cable to the end of Australian waters. #cleanenergy

Australia has granted environmental approval for a $19bn solar power project to export electricity to Singapore. The Australia-Asia Power Link is slated to generate 6GW of renewable energy, one-third of which would be transmitted to the Southeast Asia city-state via an undersea cable. SunCable, owned by billionaire software entrepreneur and climate activist Mike Cannon-Brookes, has said the project will supply up to 15 percent of Singapore’s energy needs once completed in the early 2030s. Australia’s Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said on Wednesday that the 12,000-hectare (29,650-acre) solar farm in the remote Northern Territory would create 14,300 jobs and transform Australia into a “renewable energy superpower”. “This massive project is a generation-defining piece of infrastructure. It will be the largest solar precinct in the world – and heralds Australia as the world leader in green energy,” Plibersek said in a statement. Plibersek’s office said the approval came with “strict conditions” to protect the natural environment, including that the project must avoid the habitat of the greater bilby, a rabbit-like mammal considered vulnerable to extinction. SunCable Managing Director Cameron Garnsworthy said the government’s decision was a vote of confidence in the project and the company as “responsible stewards of the local Northern Territory environment”. “SunCable will now focus its efforts on the next stage of planning to advance the project towards a Final Investment Decision targeted by 2027,” Garnsworthy said in a statement. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gXJmdris

Edify’s large-scale solar-plus-storage project in Victoria, Australia, has received government funding to support the state’s clean energy ambitions. The project will boost grid reliability and contribute to renewable energy goals, showcasing a commitment to sustainable energy transitions. This initiative aligns with Australia's broader clean energy strategy, promoting innovation in solar and storage technologies. The funding is expected to create jobs and strengthen the country's path toward a low-carbon future.

🌍England's Renewable Energy: 13 Times More Power on Less Than 3% of Land Research by Exeter University, commissioned by Friends of the Earth, has revealed that England holds the potential to produce 13 times its current renewable energy output, while utilising less than 3% of its land. The study also reassures us that the expansion of solar farms will not compromise the UK's agricultural productivity. In fact, it highlights that more land is currently dedicated to golf courses than to solar farms in the country!⛳ #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #SustainableDevelopment #CleanEnergy #GreenTech

BOOM POWER, has secured planning consents for two projects in the UK, Firsfield Solar Farm and Misslebrooks Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Alpaca Communications provide stakeholder engagement and public consultation support on the projects. 🔹 Firsfield Solar Farm, West Suffolk: This 47MW solar project received unanimous approval under delegated powers from West Suffolk Council. The Environmental Statement highlighted the project's dedication to biodiversity, with measures to enhance habitat and ensure no net-loss of skylark territories. 🔹 Misslebrooks BESS, North Baddesley, Hampshire: Capable of storing 114 megawatt-hours of renewable energy, this project was approved by Test Valley Borough Council. It's designed to discharge energy over a two-hour period, adhering to the latest NFCC Guidance. The design respects local landscape character and achieves a significant biodiversity net gain. #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #EnvironmentalImpact https://lnkd.in/eRu5MSdc

Rayleigh Solar Farm Approved: Rochford District Council Greenlights Renewable Energy Project Rayleigh Solar Farm, slated to boast an export capacity of 30 MW upon completion, has been granted planning permission following a reversal of fortunes. Initially refused by Rochford District Council’s Development Committee in June 2023, despite a recommendation for approval from Planning Officers, the project has now been greenlit. The application’s previous rejection stemmed from concerns about its impact on the Green Belt, with officials questioning whether its benefits outweighed the environmental harm. However, in a turn of events, less than a week after this decision, Rochford District Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency, setting ambitious net zero targets […] Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/diWTEp26 #solarenergy #alternativeenergy #solarpv #pvsolar #photovoltaic #cleanenergy #cleantech #climatechange #middleeast #africa #india #asiapacific #asia #aurapower #europe #netzero #rayleighsolarfarm #renewableenergy

Should X-ELIO secure the necessary approvals for the solar farm and battery project, the developer expects construction to last around 36 months. The project is expected to have an operational life of 30 years. #construction #supplychain #procurement ......................................... A 720MW solar farm and four-hour/2,880MWh battery project being proposed for the North Burnett Region near Gladstone in Queensland has been referred for assessment under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. According to details published Tuesday on the EPBC public database, the proposed North Burnett Renewable Energy Hub is being developed by the local subsidiary of Spanish renewable energy project company X-ELIO. The solar project would measure 720MWp while a companion 720 MW battery energy storage system would provide four hours of storage, or 2,880MWh. Located approximately 140 kilometres south-west of Gladstone, in the northern catchment area of the Burnett River, the proposed project has already submitted the necessary ecological assessment report, which was completed by local environmental consultants NGH. Courtesy of RenewEconomy. Connect for full story.

Another positive decision for UK solar renewables, this time in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales with the grant of planning permisison for a 42MW solar farm. This application qualified as a Development of National Significance and was considered by an Inspector, and determined by the Welsh Minister. Key issues were character and appearance of the area, including cumulative effects of other nearby solar consents, and potential impacts on heritage assets and ecology. Overall, significant weight was given to the need to meet Wales’ international commitments and the Government’s target to generate 70% of consumed electricity by renewable means by 2030, and other benefits. Conversely, no adverse impact was found in other respects. The scheme will generate clean energy for around 11,500 homes contributing to Wales and UK need.