The SEC Renewable Energy Park, on Riverside East Road, will be the first 100 per cent government-owned energy generator in Victoria since the SEC was privatised.
The park will be capable of generating about 242,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy a year – enough to power 51,000 homes.
More than 212,000 solar panels will be used to generate 119-megawatts of electricity, and sit alongside a 100-megawatt two-hour battery, which will allow more renewable generation to come online by storing power until it is ready to be fed into the grid during high demand.
Ms Allan said 246 jobs would be created during construction, including 20 apprentices, trainees and cadets.
“We’re building our future with the SEC – creating jobs, reducing bills and delivering reliable renewable energy across the state,” she said.
“Bringing back the State Electricity Commission is all about giving power and profit back to the people.
“It’s the second project, the second investment, in just a short time that the SEC has been re-established, the SEC has been able to lock it in and it’s an absolute cracking project.
“It’s a massive project and it’s going to make a big contribution to the renewable energy generation here in our state.
“This is a big moment, a big moment for the generation of renewable energy in our state, but also a big moment in terms of putting power back into the hands of the Victorian community.”
Ms Allan said the Horsham community would directly benefit from the profits, with the SEC to set up a community benefits fund, investing $42,000 a year back into the local area during the project’s construction, and a further $70,000 every year once the project was operational.
Community information sessions, at Horsham Town Hall on December 5, will outline the grants.
First of its kind
Ms D’Ambrosio said the Horsham park was the first 100 per cent government-owned renewable energy project under construction in Australia.
“The SEC has made this investment decision based on a 30-year span of asset life,” she said.
‘There has been processes where the community has been engaged already, going back to 2018, when the planning process was well and truly underway for the development of this site for the purposes of renewable energy.
“The SEC is absolutely committed to having community engagement and support at the heart of everything that it does.”
Despite not being invited to the official opening, Horsham Rural City Council representatives welcomed the project.
Horsham Mayor Ian Ross said the project positioned Horsham as a key player in Victoria’s clean-energy landscape.
“We welcome the State Government’s decision to build this landmark renewable energy park in our city. It’s a significant step towards a sustainable future for Horsham and Victoria,” he said.
“Previously, HRCC worked with private developer OX2 on planning approvals when the project was known as the Horsham Solar Farm.
“The original scope was granted planning approval in 2018, with no objections from our local community.
“The project has now increased in capability and will now generate around 242,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy a year. That’s enough to power a city three times the size of Horsham. Importantly, there is no significant increase in the site’s footprint.
“With the project’s expansion and transfer of ownership to the Victorian Government, HRCC has been working on the necessary final approval plans and strategies to ensure our local community shares in the project’s benefits.”
But Member for Lowan Emma Kealy warned that Victorians would pay the price for the solar farm.
“All of this is just going to push up energy costs for every Victorian because every single time there are new power lines built, you all know that ends up on your power bill,” she said.
“And for our region, we want to know why we have to trade-off prime agricultural land, and get nothing in return.”
Construction will begin in the next month, with the first supply of electricity to the grid to occur in mid-2026.
OX2, a European renewable energy company, sold the solar farm portion of the park to the SEC in September.
“This is OX2’s first project to reach construction in Australia,” OX2’s global chief executive Paul Stormoen said.
“We will manage the construction on behalf of the SEC and I’m proud to say that OX2 has high ambitions and a very strong 20-plus year track record when it comes to health and safety, and being a good neighbour to the community.
“We look forward to working with suppliers and local contractors who share these values.”
SEC chief executive Chris Miller said the site was selected for its flat topography and close proximity to the Horsham power station, which the park would connect to via an underground cable.
“It’s gone through the full planning process and it’s received planning permits. Through the course of that planning process, actually, there were no objections or issues raised by local community members,” he said.
• Editorial: Premier’s Horsham visit perfectly staged
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