Neoen SA, a French renewable energy company, has been granted final approval by New South Wales regulators to proceed with the development of the Thunderbolt Wind Farm, a 192-MW project set to be part of a larger renewable energy hub in the Australian state.
The state's Independent Planning Commission (IPC) gave the green light to the Thunderbolt Wind Farm on Wednesday, following previous approval from the state government planning department. The project had undergone IPC review due to objections raised during the planning process.
Conditions attached to the final permit include specifications on turbine height, landscape and vegetation screening, and road upgrades.
Located around 47km northeast of Tamworth in the New England region of New South Wales, the Thunderbolt Wind Farm will feature up to 32 turbines and is projected to produce approximately 570,000 MWh of electricity annually.
With an estimated investment of AUD 373 million (USD 245.3m/EUR 228.4m), the project represents the initial phase of a broader initiative aiming to deploy 380 MW of wind, 120 MW of solar, and 400 MW of battery storage capacity within the New England Renewable Energy Zone.
The approval signifies a significant step forward for Neoen as it expands its presence in Australia's renewable energy sector and contributes to the country's transition to cleaner energy sources.
