FAQ's
General Questions
About Wagga
The Wagga Wagga South Solar Farm (WSSF) received development approval in late 2020. WSSF is being developed by Metlen, who are responsible for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC). A contractor will be engaged to undertake the construction of the solar farm on behalf of Metlen.
The Wagga South Solar Farm Project is the second of two stages, and is located on 55ha at Windmill Road, Bomen, approximatively 7km North-East of the Wagga Wagga CBD in New South Wales. These Stage 2 works add another 49,364 panels generating some 18.7 megawatts to the 30 megawatts delivered by Stage 1 in June 2021, all of which are connected to the grid at the TransGrid zone substation. The proposed WSSF will, once operational, have the capacity to generate approximately 48,430 megawatt hours of carbon free electricity annually. The 48,430 MWh generated annually can be used to power – 6600 households.
How will the solar farm project impact the local community?
The solar farm project will help increase the local economy as workers will be relocated to work on this project, which will contribute to an increase in the economy for the town. This will also be an opportunity for locals to gain employment & for local contractors to submit tenders.
Where is the project located?
The project is located approximatively 7km North-East of Wagga Wagga CBD, 157 Windmill road, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.
What is the size of the project?
The project includes the construction, operation, upgrading and future decommissioning of an 18.7 MWAC photovoltaic electricity generating works and associated infrastructure, including grid connection to the TransGrid zone substation. The project will occupy an overall development footprint of approximately 55 ha, with an extent of disturbance for the installation of infrastructure of approximately 47.7 ha.
How much electricity will the project generate?
Once operational, the project will generate approximately 48,430 megawatt hours of carbon-free electricity annually.
How long will construction be conducted on site for?
Construction on site will be conducted for up to 8 months to 10 months including commissioning.
What’s the longevity of a solar farm project?
The expected lifespan of a solar farm project is up to 25 to 30 years.
What technologies is Metlen using to build its solar farms?
Metlen is using high quality tracker systems to build its solar farms and the most up to date module technologies.
What is the life cycle of a photovoltaic panel?
The overall lifespan of a solar panel is at least 25+ years with an average annual degradation rate of 0.50%.
Will the solar farm reduce my electricity bill?
The electricity generated from the solar farm is transmitted to the electricity grid and alters the supply-demand equation, which in turn may put downward pressure on electricity bills.
What type of maintenance activities will be conducted after construction?
Weekly, monthly, and 6 monthly inspections and tests of mechanical & electrical infrastructure will be conducted, along with vegetation management and module cleaning.
Environmental
Is there any impact on flora and fauna?
Prior to vegetation clearance and ground-breaking activities, a pre-clearance survey will be undertaken to ensure vegetation and fauna are properly identified, retained, treated, or relocated. A fence will be installed around the site to prevent fauna presence on site. A pre-clearance survey will be undertaken by a fauna spotter catcher prior to commencing site works, to identify the presence of habitat features within the works footprint. If fauna is identified within the site, a fauna spotter catcher will be called to remove the animal from within the works area.
Do the photovoltaic panels impacts geology?
Most of the solar panels are primarily made from silicon, which is the main component in sand. Due to the abundance of silicon on Earth, photovoltaic panels don’t have a negative impact on the environment. Any damaged or redundant modules are properly recycled.
How will the waste be managed on site?
All wastes are disposed of at a licenced Waste Management Centre. Wastes are removed and disposed of in accordance with the Waste Schedule. No waste will be burnt or buried on-site. All wastes removed from the site will be recorded in the Environmental Tracking Register and include details such as type of waste, quantity, whether the waste has been disposed or recycled… Toilet facilities comply with all SafeWork NSW requirements. For more information, please refer to Waste Management Plan.
How will bushfires be prevented/managed during & after construction?
Metlen contribute to initiating and maintaining site preparedness and manage fire risk associated with on-ground activities and can demonstrate knowledge of required bushfire emergency response actions. Metlen employees and subcontractors are qualified and competent in the use of fire-fighting equipment provided at WSSF. Metlen will conduct emergency response drills as part of the emergency response training and preparation. The purpose of these drills will be to ensure that staff working on-site are aware of emergency response protocols. It can enable staff to rehearse and ‘walk through’ the required steps and actions which will help effectively manage and control bush fire threat on-site. A 10m asset protection zone will be provided around the solar farm and is completely within the WSSF site. 20,000 litres of water will be supplied with a 65mm storz fitting adjoining the internal property access road within the required asset protection zone. No waste or vegetation is to be burned on site at any time. During Total Fire Ban days, no hot works will be permitted, unless an exemption has been applied for and granted by the NSW RFS. A security team will be on site 24/7 during construction. For more information, please refer to the Bush Fire Protection Plan.
Do solar farms make any noise?
Building a solar farm can be noisy depending on how close the receptors are to the construction site. However, construction will only be undertaken Monday to Friday from 7:00am to 6:00pm, & Saturday 7:00am to 5:00pm. Noise generating construction activities will be limited to standard construction hours, except where an acceptable acoustic solution can be identified to minimise adverse amenity impacts on Receptors.
Will there be much dust generated during construction? If so, how will this be managed/mitigated?
Metlen will monitor daily weather and adjust construction activities to minimise dust generation i.e. during high winds and/or dry conditions. Metlen will also manage dust suppression using a water cart on work areas and stockpiles to prevent dust generation.
Has the site been inspected for culture and heritage artefacts? How will this be managed?
The WSSF Induction includes all heritage management measures specified in the Construction Management Plan.
Roads & Access
What type of vehicles will be travelling on/off site?
Vehicles entering the site will consist of construction worker light vehicles and larger delivery trucks. The largest trucks will be able to carry containers of equipment during the course of construction, as well as other machinery. Only a few oversized trucks will be travelling to and from site.
Is the solar farm going to impact traffic?
Construction is not expected to have any significant effect (no worsening) on current road traffic movements. Transport allocation has been capped at maximum eight deliveries per day spaced no earlier than one hour apart to avoid congestion at site.
How will you manage/control the traffic?
In terms of deliveries, arrival times to Wagga Wagga Site will be from 7am to 3pm Monday to Friday. Transport have allowed one hour to unload trailers.
Will solar panels generate glare or glint?
Studies on operational solar farms have demonstrated that photovoltaic panels are designed to reflect minimal light to maximise their efficiency. Metlen intend on using equipment designed to mitigate issues with reflection and glare.
How will the visual impact be managed?
Landscaping is proposed on the boundary closest to the sensitive receptor which will screen the onsite offices, switch yard and vehicle parking from sight from the adjacent the dwelling. Where gaps exist in the existing planted areas, supplementary native tree and shrub planting will be arranged. A mix of native trees and shrubs with a dense and compact appearance have been selected to provide a maximum screening effect. The native screen planting areas will be arranged in offset rows to achieve a canopy overlap. This supplementary planting is designed to be a mix of native trees and shrubs. Overall, the design and siting of the solar modules will not create adverse visual impact.
