Prairie solar farm

The project

Located in Victoria’s Loddon Shire near the township of Mitiamo on Dja Dja Wurrung country, Prairie Solar Farm is a proposed renewable energy project being developed by Pacific Blue.

The site is highly suitable for the efficient capture of energy from the sun. The region boasts one of the best solar resources in Victoria, receiving an average of 1,792 kilowatt-hours of sunlight per square metre each year.

The project site also has great potential for connection to nearby high voltage electricity transmission lines, making it possible to export the electricity generated to Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM).

Following a detailed assessment of our planning application by local council, state government agencies and authorities, the Prairie Solar Farm project received planning approval from Loddon Shire on 14 January 2019.

Key aspects

Prairie Solar Farm is expected to have a generating capacity of up to 240 Megawatts, enough to power approximately 120,000 homes. The project may be constructed in several stages.

Some of the key characteristics of the Prairie site that make it very suitable include:

• Flat terrain with minimal trees and vegetation
• Rural land, with some areas occasionally used for livestock grazing
• Strong potential to connect to the National Electricity Market (NEM)
• Good connections to the surrounding transport network

Local benefits

Pacific Blue has a strong track record of delivering lasting social, environmental, and economic benefits to the local communities in which our projects are located. These include:

• Over 200 direct jobs during construction
• Generating local economic activity during construction and operations
• Up to 7 permanent jobs for the ongoing operation of the solar farm
• Opportunities for local businesses and suppliers
• Support for community-led projects and initiatives
• Payment of rates

Business opportunities

Local suppliers and contractors may also be engaged for the construction and delivery of the project wherever possible, and are encouraged to register their interest and capabilities with us here.

These jobs will help to diversify local skills and economic output for the region, complementing the agricultural industry and contributing to the prosperity of the local economy.

Community engagement

A key part of Pacific Blue’s successful delivery of projects is the way we engage and involve our neighbours, communities, and stakeholders throughout all stages. This involvement ensures that valuable local knowledge and perspectives are understood and considered by the project.

Members of the community and stakeholders will be provided with opportunities to be involved as the project progresses.

Community benefit sharing

Pacific Blue is proud to further support communities that host our clean energy projects through our industry-leading Community Benefit Sharing Program, which delivers a portion of revenue back into our local communities each year.

The program aims to empower local communities to identify the projects and initiatives that we should support. A range of methods are used to achieve this aim (such as community funds and sponsorships), tailored to the specific needs of each area.

Since its launch, the program has delivered over $4.9 Million to over 1000 community-led projects across regional Australia.