Another Proposed Solar Farm For Tasmania’s George Town

Another solar farm proposed for George Town is pretty small by utility-scale standards, but would provide a big boost for Tasmania’s solar energy credentials.

Victorian-headquartered Climate Capital is seeking approval for the construction of Bell Bay Solar Farm, which would be up to 4.99MW capacity and situated on the outskirts of George Town in Tasmania’s north-east. The solar panels used are to be mounted on tracking systems to boost energy production. The proposed site is zoned light industrial and any potential glare from the panels that could impact Main Road should be mitigated by the retention of vegetation along the eastern boundary.

The solar farm’s application public comment period ends on July 31 and the planning report can be viewed here.

While Climate Capital is a relatively new player, the company says its team has collectively been involved with the development more than 1,700MW of renewables generation capacity in Australia during their careers. The firm is seeking to invest in suitable solar projects 1MW – 10MW capacity and last year announced its first investment, a 2.3MW behind-the-meter solar farm at the Boonanarring Mineral Sands Project near Perth that is expected to be operational soon.

Solar Power In Tasmania

Tasmania is no leaner when it comes to renewable energy, with a previous target of 100% renewables by 2022 that it will easily achieve. In March this year Tasmania’s Premier and Minister for Climate Change Peter Gutwein set a new renewables generation target of 200 per cent of the state’s needs by 2040, but the word “solar” didn’t rate a mention in his announcement.

Wind energy and hydro power steal the renewables limelight in Tasmania and as yet there are no utility scale solar energy facilities operational in the state. While Epuron gained approvals for a 5MW facility in George Town and a 12.5MW project near Wesley Vale,  there’s been little further news on either project since 2018. So potentially, should Bell Bay Solar Farm get a green light, it could be the first utility-scale solar farm in Tasmania if Epuron doesn’t get cracking and Climate Capital does.

On the small-scale solar front, around 37,850 solar power systems had been installed in the Apple Isle by the end of May this year. Some may believe solar panels aren’t a particularly good investment in Tasmania, but SQ’s solar calculator with its default settings estimates a good quality 6.6kW solar system installed in Hobart  (or in George Town) has a simple payback period of well under 5 years.

Learn more about going solar in Tasmania.