FAQ'S

Where is the proposed Emu Park Solar Farm located?

The proposed site, at 285 Emu Park Rd, Ellangowan, is 25 minutes south of the town of Casino and 35 minutes south west of the town of Lismore within the bounds of the Richmond Valley Regional Council.

What is the scope and size of the project?

The project includes the construction, operation, maintenance, upgrading and future decommissioning of a 350MWAC photovoltaic electricity generating works, a 200 megawatt/800 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system and associated infrastructure, including connection to Transgrid’s overhead high-voltage transmission lines that cross the site.

The project footprint will occupy around 580 hectares.

How much electricity will the project generate and store?

Once operational, the project will generate approximately 707,000 megawatt-hours of carbon-free electricity annually, enough to power 115,000 average New South Wales households, with an on-site storage capacity of 80000 megawatt hours through our onsite Battery Energy Storage System.

How will the project benefit the local community?

The solar farm project will bring more people and investment to the local communities. While construction may impact the community, it will also enhance the local economy as workers relocate and contribute to the region’s economy. However, our focus will be in offering local employment opportunities and contracts to local skilled workers from the area.

What is the longevity of a solar farm?

Solar farms have an expected lifespan of 25 to 30 years, with photovoltaic panels degrading by 0.5 per cent per year.

Our mission is to safely deliver renewable energy projects that have positive, long-term impacts on communities and other stakeholders including cleaner energy, economic stimulus and job creation.

We have delivered new solar farms across NSW at Corowa, Junee and Wagga Wagga. Together these projects span 238 hectares and generate 118 megawatts peak photovoltaic electricity for Australian households. Through this, we have shown our commitment to open and transparent communication with our stakeholders and the communities hosting our solar farms.

In addition to the Mavis Solar Farm project, we are developing other solar projects in Queensland at Moura, Munna Creek and Kingaroy and in NSW at Wyalong. Together these projects will generate 450 megawatt peak electricity and span 900 hectares.

Project status and milestones

What stage is the project at now?

As a large-scale renewable energy proposal, the Emu Park project is considered a State Significant Development (SSD) under NSW planning laws and is subject to a rigorous approval process.

We are currently preparing to submit the scoping report to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

What are SEARs?

After reviewing the scoping report, the Department issues SEARs, which determines the matters that need to be assessed in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). As a SSD, the Emu Park Solar Farm requires approval from the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces.

What is involved in the EIS?

The EIS will examine the project’s impact on the environment (including air and water quality, biodiversity and land), social and economic matters (including access, amenity, and heritage) and potential risks. The EIS be on public exhibitions for at least 28 days, with the community and other stakeholders encouraged to provide feedback.

For the project to be approved, Metlen must show that we have engaged widely with the community and other stakeholders such as council, businesses and relevant agencies.

The Minister will consider the EIS and public feedback in determining the project’s approval.

What is the timeframe for the planning process?

The diagram below provides a high-level estimate of the planning approval process through to construction start.

• Lodge scoping report – October 2025
• Submit Environmental Impact Statement – June 2026
• Project determination (approval) – June 2027
• Construction start – April 2028

Potential construction impacts

How long will construction take?

We anticipate construction will take between 12 to 18 months from start to finish.

Potential operational impacts

Will solar panels generate glare or glint?

Studies on operational solar farms show that photovoltaic panels are designed to reflect minimal light to maximise efficiency. In response, Metlen intends to use equipment designed to mitigate reflection and glare impacts.

How will the visual impact be managed?

The solar modules’ design and site location will minimise visual impact, with landscaping around the site perimeter screening other site features such as offices and parking.

How will you clean the panels?

Metlen will only use distilled/purified water, leaving zero residue. Our solar projects will not create any contamination to the water or land, unlike residential or other forms of development, which add contamination risks from new/additional septic systems, lawn pesticides, and the like.

Is there a danger of runaway fire from the BESS?

Modern Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) have low fire danger mainly because of their design and safety features:

BESS are made up of many small modules. Each module holds battery cells and is kept separate from others. This helps stop a fire from spreading if one module gets too hot or has a problem.

Each module has its own sensors and controls to constantly check temperature, voltage, and other signs of trouble. If an issue is detected, that module can be quickly shut down or isolated.

There are built-in cooling systems to keep the batteries at a safe temperature and prevent overheating.

The modules are housed in strong, fire-resistant cases, and the whole system has fire detection and suppression systems.

Safer battery types, like lithium iron phosphate (LFP), are often used because they are less likely to catch fire.

The system layout includes space and ventilation to prevent fires from spreading.

All these features combine to reduce fire risk and make it easier to control any problem that might happen.

Regarding statistics, in Australia, fire incidents in BESS are very rare—less than 0.01% of all installations have experienced fire events. This shows the strong safety record of modern BESS technology.

This modular and well-monitored design is why modern BESS are considered safe and reliable for energy storage.