Gullen Solar Farm
The Gullen Solar Farm project is an operational solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant with an installed capacity of 10MW. The solar farm is co-located within the existing Gullen Range Wind Farm making Gullen Range the first large-scale co-located wind and solar farm in Australia. Locating the solar farm adjacent to the wind farm minimises required infrastructure (such as roads, power lines and telecommunications), meaning a reduction in environmental impact and project cost. Construction of the solar farm was supported by a grant from ARENA.
The solar farm consists of 42,000 solar panels and first generated electricity in 2017. It produces approximately 22,000 megawatt-hours of clean renewable energy each year, which is enough energy to supply approximately 3,100 NSW homes. The operating life of the solar farm will be 25 – 30 years.
BJCE Australia is proud to be a founding signatory of the Clean Energy Council’s Best Practice Charter for Renewable Energy Developments. The charter is a voluntary set of commitments to reflect our promise to develop and operate projects in a socially responsible way. The charter can be downloaded here.
Please feel free to contact us if you would like further information, or if you would like to provide feedback or lodge a complaint about the solar farm.
News
The latest solar farm news is below. You can view all our news here.
News item: 20/06/2024: June Community Newsletter
The June 2024 Community Update is now available to read and download here.
News item: 18/06/2024: Book your FREE tour ticket and visit Gullen Range Wind and Solar Farm
Get up close to a wind turbine and a solar array at our next public tour. The next tour will be held on Wednesday, 9 October 2024 from 11 am. To book your free ticket click here.
News item: 15/04/2024: Biala Wind Farm To Host FREE Community Fund Think Tank
On Sunday 28th of April, Biala Wind Farm will host a Community Fund Think Tank at the Grabben Gullen Hall aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge of the Biala Wind Farm Community Fund.
The Think Tank will provide an opportunity for the community to learn more about what projects the Fund can support and is aimed at generating innovative big-picture project ideas that will deliver the greatest benefit to the local community for years to come.
The Community Fund Think Tank will kick-off at 11:30 am at the Grabben Gullen Hall. To register for this FREE event, please visit https://tinyurl.com/ybt6h4vs or call 0429 614 297. Community groups and residents who are unable to attend can submit questions ahead of the Think Tank by phone or email at info@bialawindfarm.com.
News item: 15/03/2024: Book your FREE tour ticket and visit Gullen Range Wind and Solar Farm
Get up close to a wind turbine and a solar array at our next public tour. The next tour will be held on Wednesday, 5 June 2024 from 11am. To book your free ticket click here.
Gullen Range Wind Farm recently hosted a group of 20 senior staff and mid-career professionals representing Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand as part of a two-week Mekong-Australia Partnership masterclass called Responding to the Climate Change Challenge.
Jointly organised by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and The University of Queensland, the group were visiting Australia to take part in a number of briefings, academic classes and site visits to learn more about the key issues of climate change and disaster resilience.
The opportunity to visit a wind farm in Australia was considered an invaluable component of the program which aims to support Mekong subregional partner countries to achieve their development goals through education and knowledge transfer. The program also hopes to build enduring relationships that advance mutual interests and our collective efforts to combat climate change and foster sustainable development between Australia and the Mekong region.
While the group were visiting Canberra, they made a stop on a chilly Monday, 4th of March at Gullen Range Wind Farm where BJCE’s Lachlan Lamberton, Andrew Sinclair and Erin Fletcher, along with Goldwind Site Technicians provided a detailed introduction to the construction and operation of a wind farm, as well as an overview of the Australian energy market.
The group of very engaged delegates enthusiastically asked a range of questions to deepen their understanding of wind energy generation and wind farm operations while also learning more about how these projects co-exist with local communities and how the government supports their development in Australia.
Following the Q&A session at the operations building, the group got the chance to see a turbine up close, with all marvelling at the sheer scale and height while enjoying the view over the hills towards Bannister and Crookwell.
News item: 13/03/24: Grant applications are now OPEN for the Gullen Range Wind Farm Community Fund
In 2024, approximately $90,000 is available for projects or initiatives benefiting the community within 10km of the wind farm. Applications for the latest round of funding will close on 26 April 2024. Further information, including how to apply, is available from the Upper Lachlan Shire Council website. To read more about our Community Enhancement Fund click here.
In February, Gullen Range Wind Farm supported the 145th Annual Crookwell Show as a Red Ribbon Sponsor.
It’s the sixth year the wind farm has supported one of Crookwell’s biggest community events, which once again saw the Company sponsor the face-painting stall, helping to raise funds for local charity, The Crookwell Man Walk.
The stall again proved to be one of the most popular at the Show for locals and visitors alike with BJCE Australia matching the funds raised, delivering The Crookwell Man Walk a total of $400 to their worthy cause.
Manbassador for Crookwell and Grabben Gullen local, Chris Wilson said, “I was delighted to be selected as this year’s fundraising recipient. In just two years, we have achieved over 103 mental health walks for men, investing more than 17,000 hours putting one foot forward.”
“Men are known for bottling things up and on our walks, we can talk about what’s going on and get fit at the same time. Blokes make up an average seven out of every nine suicides every single day in Australia.”
“Thank you to Gullen Range Wind Farm, the smallest of donation can go toward a lot of things. It means a lot to all of us to be recognised and supported”, Chris said.
The stall also provided show attendees with information about BJCE’s three local renewable energy projects: Gullen Range Wind Farm, Gullen Solar Farm and Biala Wind Farm.
Highlights of the Show this year included a reptile show, a petting zoo and a rock-climbing wall and of course the arts, craft and cooking entries in the Pavilion.
Beijing Energy’s Head of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations, Karl Schubert said BJCE was proud to have again had the chance to sponsor the Crookwell show and support a worthy local charity.
“We have always enjoyed attending and supporting the Crookwell Show, which is a highlight on the local calendar.” Mr Schubert said.
“Being able to engage with the local community, provide a fun activity for the kids to enjoy and raise funds for a worthy charity is a weekend very well spent.
The issue of mental health, especially among men in rural and regional Australia is an important one and we hope the funds we helped raise will continue the great work The Crookwell Man Walk does in the region.”
News item: 07/03/24: Bowled over by fabulous Goulburn Rose Tournament Triples event
The Goulburn Bowling Club recently welcomed teams and players from all over New South Wales to compete in the prestigious, four-day Goulburn Rose Tournament Triples competition.
Cheryle Corby, Goulburn Bowling Club’s senior vice president said she was delighted with this year’s event which went off without a hitch.
Gullen Range Wind and Solar Farm is a long term and proud sponsor of this popular event.
Gullen Range Wind and Solar Farm’s Head of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations, Mr Karl Schubert congratulated the committee on delivering another successful tournament.
“It has been a pleasure to once again support the Goulburn Rose Tournament and I’d like to extend a sincere thanks and congratulations to all who participated and helped make the event successful,” Mr Schubert said.
“We look forward to continuing to support the event in future years.”
Wayne Gallimore and Ken Hill established the Rose Tournament as a men’s bowls competition in 1995. It has been enthusiastically managed ever since by a committee of dedicated volunteers, supported by local sponsors.
In early February, Gullen Range Wind Farm welcomed the Hon. Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, alongside Australia’s Energy Infrastructure Commissioner, Andrew Dyer for the release of the Commissioner’s Community Engagement Review. The Minister and Commissioner were joined by our longtime neighbour and friend, Ken Ikin, as well as National Farmer’s Federation Chief Executive, Tony Mahar and Farmer’s For Climate Action representative, Peter Holding.
Beijing Energy has always had a strong focus on ensuring our engagements with the community are authentic, respectful and meaningful. This was acknowledged in 2018 when we were one of only three finalists in the National Business Community Engagement Award for our co-located Gullen Range Wind Farm Clean Energy Program. In that same year, we reinforced our commitment to genuine and respectful community engagement by becoming a founding signatory to the Clean Energy Council’s Best Practice Charter for Renewable Energy Developments. The charter is a voluntary set of commitments that reflects our desire to advance and develop projects in a socially responsible way. It demonstrates our commitment to engaging respectfully with the communities in which we plan and operate projects, being sensitive to environmental and cultural values, and making a positive contribution to the regions in which we operate.
The opportunity to host the Minister and Commissioner for the release of the report further underlined our commitment to community engagement and we welcome the key recommendations the report delivered. It was also an opportunity for Ken to talk to the media about his experience and how good, genuine community engagement can enhance a project’s standing in the region and deliver better outcomes for everyone.
We remain committed to finding ways to improve our operations and community engagement efforts across all of our projects in Australia and the Government’s review provides clear guidelines on how we can continue to work towards best practice, delivering genuine benefits to local communities and regions.
Gullen Range Wind Farm was proud to sponsor Crookwell Public School’s Year 6 Presentation Day Prizes for Applied Science and Mathematics in December. Congratulations go to Liam Moloney, who won the Applied Science Award and Kenzi Fowler who won the Consistent Effort Award in Mathematics.
“Australia’s energy transition presents huge opportunities for the next generation to work in the exciting renewable energy industry”, says Karl Schubert, Head of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations. “Building students interest and excitement in STEM subjects will go a long way to supporting the next generation of engineers, scientists and renewable energy workers that will drive Australia’s push to a renewable and sustainable future. We’re proud to be doing our part in supporting the students at Crookwell Public School and hope that these awards inspire others to explore the wonderful world of science and math.”
Crookwell Public School Principal, Michael Whittington said, “The Gullen Range Wind Farm’s consistent support of Crookwell Public School is greatly valued and appreciated.”
News item: 24/01/2024: Book your FREE tour ticket and visit Gullen Range Wind and Solar Farm
Get up close to a wind turbine and a solar array at our next public tour. The next tour will be held on Wednesday, 14 February 2024 at 11 am. To book your FREE ticket, please click here. To learn more about our tours click here.
Applications for the next round of the Clean Energy Program close on Friday 22 March 2024. The Program provides financial contributions to support the installation of clean energy improvements to eligible properties within 5km of the wind farm. More information is available under the community and grants section.
News item: 21/12/23: Merry Christmas from BJCE Australia
News item: 18/12/23: Crookwell Bombers powers to 2023 Turbine Cup win
News item: 11/11/23: Goulburn Rotary Club Visits Gullen Range