Philippine group Ayala's ACEN Corp has begun the planning approval process for a 100-MW solar project with 80 MW of battery storage in New South Wales, Australia.
The company has submitted a scoping report to the state's Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI), marking the first step in the permitting process. The project will be evaluated as a State Significant Development.
Following the review, DPHI will issue its Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs), outlining the issues that need to be addressed in the project's environmental impact statement (EIS). ACEN anticipates submitting the EIS early next year, pending receipt of SEARS.
The Comma solar park, planned for the locality of Bunyan in the Snowy Monaro region, is expected to generate electricity for approximately 45,000 homes in Australia. The integrated battery system will store and release energy during peak demand periods, offering between two and four hours of discharge capacity.
In addition to solar power production, the site will be used for sheep grazing. According to the scoping report, construction is expected to commence in 2027, with the complex projected to be operational by the last quarter of 2028.
