Case Study: Fulham Solar Farm and BESS | Fulham
Client: Octopus Investments Australia
Location: Fulham, Victoria
Sector: Renewable Energy
Overview
Dartmouth Consulting was engaged as the lead planners for the Fulham Solar Farm and Battery development. The project includes a 100MW solar farm spanning 160 hectares of farmland, distributed battery storage of up to 120MWh and upgraded grid connections. As a successful initiative under VRET2, the Fulham Solar Farm plays a critical role in advancing the Victorian Government’s commitment to achieving 100% renewable electricity consumption for its operations.
Challenges
Navigating complex planning approval processes to ensure timely and compliant project delivery.
Collaborating with stakeholders, including local councils and relevant authorities, to address environmental concerns.
Ensuring compliance with the Native Title Act 1993 and the Heritage Act 2017 throughout the project's lifecycle.
Solutions
Strategic Planning: Dartmouth’s experience in navigating complex planning and environmental approvals allowed us to proactively address potential challenges and ensure full compliance with relevant legislation. Through close collaboration with planners at the Department of Transport and Planning, we developed a comprehensive planning application that streamlined the planning approval and set a strong foundation for the project’s success.
Stakeholder Engagement: We establish open communication channels with key stakeholders, including the fire authority, registered aboriginal party, local council and environmental authorities, to build project trust and transparency.
Legal and Heritage Requirements: We integrated the requirements of the Native Title Act 1993 and Heritage Act 2017 into the project framework, ensuring the project proceeded smoothly while respecting all legal and cultural considerations.
Outcomes
Dartmouth Consulting successfully guided the Fulham Solar Farm and Battery project through complex planning and approval processes, ensuring compliance with all regulatory and environmental requirements. This critical groundwork has positioned the project to move forward in supporting Victoria’s renewable energy targets under the VRET2 program.
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