The Glenrowan Solar Farm is a 130 MW solar project located 2km south-west of Glenrowan, a small regional town approximately 230 kilometres north-east of Melbourne. The solar farm is currently in the construction phase, due for mechanical completion in late 2023 and when generation starts in 2024 it will supply clean and renewable electricity across Australia.
Glenrowan Solar Farm is developing, investing in and managing the project. WSP has been involved since the project’s inception, providing a range of cross-business services. We were able to respond proactively with additional technical advisory services to Glenrowan Solar Farm from our wider renewable energy specialist teams.
Our Communications and Engagement team is providing ongoing communication and stakeholder engagement support. Our services include:
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Landowner, Stakeholder and Community engagement
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Communication support
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Community Reference Group facilitation and engagement.
Putting the community at the centre
Since 2021, we have engaged in ongoing discussions with stakeholders and the Glenrowan community. These interactions have informed the development of our comprehensive plans, which include a detailed Social Impact Assessment, a Communications and Engagement Strategy, a Benefit Sharing Strategy, as well as an Evaluation and Monitoring Plan, all designed to support the project.
The Social Impact Assessment (SIA) informs and supports the Communication and Engagement and Benefit Sharing strategies. The SIA presents a holistic summary of the local social context to understand the potential benefits and impacts of the project on the local community, and how these impacts might be mitigated to maximise positive impacts.
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The Communication and Engagement Strategy is a foundational element of the engagement approach for the project lifecycle that considers the social demographics of the community and provides an overview of the necessary tools and techniques and risk analysis of the project.
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The Benefit Sharing Strategy outlines the project's commitment and intended approach to developing and implementing benefit-sharing initiatives to be determined in partnership with the community, including the establishment of a Community Reference Group (CRG) to help co-design the program.
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The Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Plan summarises key findings from the project’s lifecycle and identifies opportunities for continuous improvement.
Core to our team’s values is a commitment to working collaboratively with clients to design and deliver projects that foster meaningful and trusting relationships with a community and stakeholders. The team has developed a strong network of strategic partnerships with local organisations to provide input into our engagement program.
Meeting Victoria’s renewable target
WSP is dedicated to helping our clients with all their energy transition needs. We are committed to halving the carbon footprint of our designs and advice by 2030 and have a strong history of delivering innovative renewable energy projects across the country, such as EnergyConnect and Bungala Solar Farm.
As the number of renewable energy projects increases in Victoria, there is a growing appreciation for projects that provide a clean and reliable source of energy for communities.
In October 2022, Glenrowan Solar Farm was selected as one of six new solar farm projects and was successful in Victoria’s second renewable auction (VRET2). It is located within one of Victoria’s six Renewable Energy Zones (REZs). These zones are targeted areas that support the connection of renewable projects and Victoria’s legislated climate renewable energy target of 50% by 2030.
The 245-hectare solar farm will generate an installed capacity of up to 130 MWdc / 102MWac and connects to the existing nearby Glenrowan Terminal Substation. It has grid connection and services agreements with the Victorian transmission network operator (AusNet) and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and is expected to power approximately 45,000 Australian homes.
Enhancing social value
Social value is an approach to valuing the elements that create quality of life for people and communities. It is a core component of our Environmental, Social, and Governance Report.
Social value is also a key priority for a report developed by WSP and the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) which explored a range of diverse perspectives on social value to understand its crucial role in shaping our infrastructure and built environment. Our report shows that Australia’s infrastructure sector is keen to contribute to the good of our nation and local communities. It identifies opportunities for the sector to work authentically and in partnership with communities to create lasting and positive change so that every Australian can share in the riches of our national infrastructure.
Consistent with this, our Community and Engagement team also recognises the importance of building relationships with the local community and operating in an open and transparent manner, and building social value in the areas where we work. As part of the Community Engagement Strategy and Benefit Sharing Strategy, we established a CRG that acts as a two-way link between the project and the local community to provide an avenue for community involvement.
The CRG aligns with our client’s commitment to being responsible and working with the surrounding community to help identify benefit sharing initiatives that address social impacts.
The Benefit Sharing Program has been established to deliver social, environmental and economic outcomes that meet local needs, and hopes to create a positive legacy for the local community. The program will fund applications for initiatives that demonstrate a direct local benefit and meet assessment criteria developed with the CRG based on input from the local community.
The project is on track and commercial operation is scheduled to start in mid-2024.
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