Cobbora Solar Farm

In June 2024, CIMIC acquired the development rights for the Cobbora Solar Farm and co-located large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) project in New South Wales.

When developed, it will be one of the largest solar farms in Australia. It comprises a 700 MWac solar farm and a 400 MW/800 MWh BESS that will provide clean, cheap electricity for NSW and support the planned closure of over 3 gigawatts of NSW coal generators. The project is on the site of the former Cobbora Coal Mine project, which was proposed for the area in 2014 but did not proceed.

The solar farm will have the potential to generate enough clean, renewable energy to power approximately 280,000 average-sized homes.

It is located in the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone about 6kms from the township of Cobbora, 20kms south-west of Dunedoo and 55km east of Dubbo. The site is being designed with minimal long-term disruption to the land.

Cobbora Solar Farm is currently in the planning and approvals stage. An Environmental Impact Statement for the Cobbora Solar Farm is due to be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) in late 2024, before being placed on public exhibition for community and stakeholder feedback.

We will proactively engage and share benefits with the regional community and will continue to engage with the local community and stakeholders through the life of the project.

Construction is expected to start in 2026, with electricity anticipated to start feeding into the network from 2030.

CIMIC company UGL will develop the project solution, undertake early works and construction and provide operation and maintenance services once completed.