Eugowra Mid-Scale Solar Plant

Construction is nearing completion on Cabonne Council’s mid-scale solar plant at Eugowra, a project designed to reduce energy costs, generate income and improve the long-term financial sustainability of Council operations.

Located at the Eugowra Sewer Treatment Plant, the solar facility will have a capacity of approximately 2.14 megawatts and includes more than 4,000 solar panels, supported by a 5.5 MWh battery energy storage system. The system will produce enough electricity to power around 537 homes each year. The addition of battery storage will enable electricity generated during the day to be stored and used or sold when demand is highest.

General Manager Bradley Byrnes said the project will deliver long-term benefits for the community, even though Council is unable to directly supply electricity to residents.

“Due to the rules and regulations, unfortunately Council is unable to be a power provider to the community. However, there is still a strong community benefit, as Council will be able to reduce its operating costs from the plant, as well as potentially generate income that can be reinvested back into the community in the form of assets and services,” Mr Byrnes said.

The project is currently in its final stages of construction, with testing and commissioning expected to take place in July and August 2026. Once operational, the plant will be capable of offsetting a significant portion of Council’s electricity use across its many sites.

The financial benefits of the project are a key driver behind the investment. Council has historically faced substantial electricity costs, and the solar plant is expected to reduce reliance on the grid while helping to manage exposure to rising energy prices. Importantly, the system is also designed to generate more power than Council requires at certain times, allowing surplus electricity to be sold back into the market and create an ongoing revenue stream.

The $5.5 million project has been supported by approximately $1.5 million in NSW Government funding through the Resources for Regions Fund, helping to reduce upfront costs and improve its overall return on investment. Over time, the savings and income generated are expected to offset the initial capital outlay and contribute to more stable operating costs.

Beyond the financial benefits, the Eugowra solar plant also supports broader strategic goals, including reducing emissions and contributing to net zero initiatives.

With commissioning expected later this year, the project marks a significant step towards a more sustainable and energy-secure future for Cabonne, while delivering practical cost benefits that can be reinvested into services and infrastructure for the community.

Council’s 2.14MW solar plant with 5.5MWh battery storage at the Eugowra Sewerage Treatment Plant is close to completion, with construction finishing in early April. Covering around 1.5 hectares, the system will export electricity to the grid, helping offset Council’s overall power use and emissions. Essential Energy network upgrades will begin soon, with energisation scheduled for 1 July 2026. After connection, the plant will undergo six weeks of testing before operating at full capacity.

• The stakeholder deed, required for the eventual creation of an electrical easement, has been finalised. This completes a potentially lengthy and complicated process that has put other electrical projects at risk.
• After delaying the energisation date from 9 March 2026 to 5 May 2026 due to delays sourcing long lead time items, this date has not changed again.
• Construction has started on the plant itself, with the construction contractor commencing in mid-January. Contractor spent some time focusing on getting site setup completed, including delivery of equipment, plant and site amenities, completing surveys and confirming physical site features. Installation of the mounting structures and solar panels has commenced with good progress being made and reports of good site conditions.
• The plan for the high voltage works that occur within the Essential Energy network have not been certified yet, however changes required are only minor and Essential Energy have not flagged any concerns that would delay any further. All landowner consent forms have been received and at this stage is not anticipated to cause any delays to the project.

• A construction certificate has been issued by the private certifier.
• Hardstands and other minor earth works have been completed.
• Security fencing and gates have been installed.
• All directly procured items have arrived on site including 4392 solar panels, 2 x 2.75MWh battery energy storage systems and inverter.
• Designs have been finalised with for construction drawings completed.
• A stakeholder deed has been established, which temporarily negates the need to establish an electrical easement along the boundary of the Eugowra STP where new electrical lines will be installed. The deed is essentially a bond that is paid and held until an actual easement is created, this allows more flexibility during construction as any potential issues that may require construction to take place outside of the easement would need to halt until the easement was amended. Once construction has been completed an easement based on the actual construction can be established and bond returned.
• The energisation date has been pushed back from the 9 March 2026 until the 5 May 2026. This is due to some items being sourced by the construction contractor taking longer than anticipated to arrive. With much of the time contingency being consumed in the delivery delay rather than risk missing the 9 March date, which needs to be secured with Essential Energy, and risking a lengthy delay in establishing a new date, it was deemed a better option to negotiate a new date early on. This change will mean testing and commissioning of the plant will now be completed in May/June 2026.
• The delay in sourcing materials means construction will not commence until mid-January 2026. The construction contractor is expecting a short 6-week construction period. • The required network augmentation plans are with Essential Energy for approval pending the receipt of landowner consent forms, which are taking longer than anticipated to source.

Council staff are continuing to work closely with Constructive Energy to progress the Mid-Scale Solar Project with the main focus of activities being:

• Undertaking planning with the two construction contractors and aligning schedules to ensure works are carried out in the correct order. As well both contractors have the opportunity to review designs and provide feedback or ideas for improvement to the design engineers so that designs can be amended.
• Working with the private certifier to secure a construction certificate. At this stage it’s estimated the construction certificate will be obtained in September.
• Arranging delivery and storage of solar panels leading up to construction.
• Sourcing a firm to undertake the customs clearing and transport to site for the batteries and inverter.
• Securing an electrical easement over council owned land for the new Essential Energy infrastructure at the Eugowra STP site.
• Obtaining landowners consent for construction works that need to be undertaken on private land. There are 2.65km of overhead lines that need upgrading which will require replacing 13 poles and installation and new 1 pole across properties in both the Cabonne Council and Forbes Shire Council areas.
• Obtaining a certified design for the Essential Energy augmentation works. The first draft of the design has been submitted to Essential Energy for review.

Council staff continue to advance the Mid-Scale Solar Project.

The current focus is on finalising two key contracts:

• Contract 1827678 - Eugowra STP Solar Farm Construction
• Contract 1850638 - Eugowra STP Solar Farm High Voltage Construction

Most project components depend on the execution of these contracts. At this stage, there is no projected change to the overall project timeline.