Construction has officially begun on the SEC Renewable Energy Park – Horsham in western Victoria, marking the start of the state’s first 100 per cent publicly owned large-scale renewable energy project.
Pre-construction work commenced in February 2025, with initial activities including the establishment of a temporary storage area, site fencing, the construction of access tracks, and the delivery of materials for the solar farm.
Installation of the solar panel infrastructure is now underway to ensure the panels receive optimal sunlight exposure.
The SEC Renewable Energy Park, being developed in collaboration with the OX2, will consist of a 119-megawatt solar farm with over 212,000 photovoltaic panels.
The park is also set to feature a 100-megawatt, two-hour battery storage system, making it one of Australia’s first integrated solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) with a single connection point.
With a total investment of $370 million from the SEC, the project will become operational in 2027, generating around 242,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy annually—enough to power 51,000 homes.
The project is expected to generate local employment opportunities, including 246 jobs during the construction phase, and offer ongoing community benefits, such as a $42,000 fund during construction and $70,000 annually once the facility is operational.
Additionally, the project is committed to engaging with local communities and First Peoples through best practice consultation.
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