Puggoon Solar Farm and BESS

X-ELIO wants to see the local community benefit meaningfully from the Project, and we welcome any suggestions about how we can leave a positive legacy. We will work with the Mid-Western Regional Council and local community groups to understand how best to support businesses, groups, and initiatives.

The Project is expected to employ up to 300 employees and contractors during construction and decommissioning. A further 15 operational positions will be generated over the Project’s 30-year lifespan.

Whenever possible, the Project team will employ local workers. Additionally, we will collaborate with local training providers to incorporate the local workforce as much as possible and enhance industry qualifications.

Solar farms are comprised of a large number of photovoltaic (PV) panels made from silicon. The panels are mounted on piles driven into the ground for stability.

The panels absorb sunlight to generate direct current (DC) energy. Inverters convert this to alternating current (AC), which powers homes and businesses. A transformer adjusts the voltage, and the electricity is fed into a transmission line for use locally or distribution to the electricity power grid.

Even on cloudy days, solar panels can produce between 10 per cent and 25 per cent of their typical output. Advanced tracking systems enable solar panels to tilt and follow the sun throughout the day to maximise the amount of electricity generated.

Puggoon Solar Farm will have a Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) on-site to store excess energy gathered during sunny days and can provide electricity during nighttime hours or periods of low sun.

Puggoon Solar Farm will have a BESS on-site to store energy.

Responsible solar development benefits both agriculture and ecosystems by improving soil health, retaining water, and nurturing native species and pollinators that support local food production.

After panels are installed, native vegetation will be planted, which will often attract pollinators such as bees. The deep roots of native plants retain water during heavy storms and periods of drought. They also help maintain topsoil and soil health over time.

At the end of the Project, the solar panels can be removed, and the land returned to its original use.

There is no evidence to suggest that solar panels or other renewable energy equipment pose a contamination risk to livestock, crops or food production. Integrity Systems, which manages the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program, has stated that it is safe for livestock to graze in a paddock that also contains solar panels or other renewable energy equipment. There is also no requirement to have livestock setback from this equipment.

Solar farms can help farmers and landowners diversify their income by providing a reliable, weather-resistant source of revenue.

The Puggoon BESS will store excess energy from the solar farm and the national grid during periods of low demand, then supply it back during peak times. Storing energy helps stabilise the grid by balancing supply and demand, and providing backup power during outages.

The Project will first serve the local region in and around Beryl and Gulgong. Only if the local area has enough electricity will it travel further away. The BESS is a solution to regulate local electricity peaks and troughs.

The proposed Puggoon Solar Farm and BESS Project will be located at 340 Jacksons Lane in Beryl, NSW.

The site is within the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWO REZ), an area where solar, wind, batteries, and high-voltage power lines can be used as modern-day power stations to deliver energy to homes, businesses and industry.
X-ELIO conducted an extensive location and pre-feasibility connection assessment in 2021. Among the many factors considered when choosing the Project location were:

• generally flat topography
• rural grazing land
• proximity to existing electricity network connection and powerlines
• mainly cleared land
• no known rare flora and fauna (subject to ongoing investigations)
• no known cultural heritage issues (subject to ongoing investigations)
• no expected EPBC issues (subject to ongoing investigations)
• good road access and
• located outside the flood zone.

The site’s proximity to Transgrid’s Beryl Substation was a key factor in site selection, as this minimises the length of the transmission route and makes it easier to store power for the national grid.

The Project study area is approximately 553 hectares. The Puggoon Solar Farm will comprise approximately 460,000 solar panels, generating up to an estimated 264 megawatts of sustainable, clean electricity. This will power the equivalent of 20,000 Australian households and support the transition of Australia’s power generation away from fossil fuels.

As a State Significant Development, the Project is subject to rigorous approval processes under NSW planning laws.

X-ELIO submitted a Scoping Report to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) in May 2025. The report included the results of site investigations, early consultations, and initial studies in the area.

DPHI issued the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) for the Project in June 2025. These specify the issues to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which is the current stage of the approval process.

The EIS assesses the Project’s potential environmental, cultural heritage, community, social and economic impacts during the construction, long-term operation, and decommissioning phases.

X-ELIO is using the SEARs to guide it through the EIS process to better understand any impacts the Project may have on the surrounding areas. As we do this, we’ll continue communicating with landowners, adjacent communities and other stakeholders.

The Project team is currently preparing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and expects to lodge this with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) in late Q1 2026. We can only establish when construction will start after all government approvals are complete. This process includes the DPHI evaluating all key technical, environmental, and social aspects of the Project. Construction is expected to take 12 to 18 months.

The Puggoon Solar Farm and BESS project is expected to be operational for approximately 30 years.

We will assess potential visual impacts as part of the planning process and develop strategies to manage or mitigate those impacts. We will engage with nearby residents to understand their specific needs.

The proposed Project site is accessed via several unsealed roads, such as Barneys Reef Road, Puggoon Road, Jacksons Lane, and Puggoon Siding Road. These unsealed roads will likely not be adequate to accommodate construction vehicles. Any changes to the road infrastructure are under the jurisdiction of the Mid-Western Regional (MWR) Council. We will work closely with the Council and regulators to manage potential impacts on local roads associated with the Project. We will notify the community before any activities that may impact traffic, change access, or cause delays in travel times.

Solar panels are completely silent. Some equipment on the solar farm, such as inverters, transformers and motors, emit a small amount of sound during the day, from sunrise to sunset. Some transportation and maintenance equipment – cars, trucks, lawnmowers and trimmers – might also be heard. Noise typically does not exceed sounds that people might hear on land used for agricultural purposes.

To minimise sound, the equipment will be strategically placed within the solar panels and at a distance from the Project site’s property boundary lines.

We will conduct noise impact studies during the Project planning, and we can provide further information as it becomes available. Once operational, we will conduct ongoing monitoring to confirm that the Project operates within permitted noise levels.

The Project team is undertaking thorough investigations of the existing flora and fauna native to Beryl. These studies will identify the measures we can take to minimise any disturbance to local wildlife, considering existing habitats and wildlife corridors, and avoiding sensitive areas.

Where possible, habitats can even improve by introducing suitable ground vegetation to promote biodiversity and create safe habitats for existing and new wildlife, including insects and birds.

A solar farm does not inherently increase the risk of bushfires. Solar farms in Australia are required to adhere to strict safety standards, including maintaining low vegetation, creating fire breaks, ensuring emergency access, and coordinating with local fire services.

In a BESS, the batteries are stored in purpose-built containers, which undergo rigorous fire testing as part of the manufacturing process. Additionally, each container has its own gas-based fire suppression system that activates in the unlikely event of a fire incident.

Assessment and management of any bushfire risk, and ongoing engagement with the Rural Fire Service (RFS) and Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW), are integral to the Project design.

Once the Project has reached the end of its lifespan, all structures and ancillary facilities are removed, and the land returned to its pre-existing condition.

A detailed decommissioning plan will be created for the Project as part of the permitting process. This plan includes a commitment and budget for implementation and specifications for how the site will be returned to its original condition.