The rollout of cheap and clean energy continues at pace, with the Albanese Government cracking a century of renewable energy project approvals since the May 2022 election.
These 100 projects will generate enough energy to power every home in Australia, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 53 million tonnes of CO2 each year which is the equivalent of taking 16.7 million passenger cars off the road.
The projects are located right across the nation and include 43 solar farms, 22 onshore wind farms, 13 energy storage systems, 13 infrastructure and exploration projects (including for offshore wind farms) and 9 transmission projects.
The approval of the Nowingi Solar Power Station, located 47km south of Mildura in Victoria, brought up the century by being the 100th renewable energy project to be given the green light by the Albanese Government.
The project will include the largest eight-hour storage battery of its kind in Australia, powered by a new solar farm that can generate up to 300 MW of electricity.
Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said the decision marked a significant milestone in Australia's transition to becoming a renewable energy superpower.
"We are setting Australia up for a future powered by renewables, which is the cheapest and cleanest energy available," Minister Watt said.
"Our country needs to continue supporting the rapid rollout of renewables to meet our ambitious and achievable 2035 target, and to achieve net zero by 2050.
"The Albanese Government is doing its part by approving these 100 projects right across the country.
"Importantly, almost 90 per cent of these approval decisions were delivered on time.
"Projects such as the Nowingi Power Station provide an excellent example of what can be achieved with good design and site selection.
"That work led to faster approval times and will ultimately deliver reliable, renewable energy with minimal impact to the environment.
"The project is strategically located next to transmission lines and within the easement corridor, minimising impacts to the environment and to existing land use.
"With many more renewable energy project approvals in the pipeline, we aren't putting the cue in the rack at 100."
John Cole the CEO of Edify Energy, the proponent for Nowingi Solar Power Station, said his company was delighted to receive Federal Government approval for the new solar farm and battery energy storage system (BESS).
"The fact it's the 100th project to be signed off by this Government makes it extra special," he said.
"Once operational, Nowingi will be the largest duration BESS facility in Australia, capable of dispatching 300MW an hour for eight hours.
"That's enough to power 100,000 homes.
"Nowingi represents a cornerstone in delivering a reliable, affordable, and fully renewable national electricity system, while creating regional construction jobs and investment in north-west Victoria."
