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34.2MW

Cohuna
Solar Farm

A 34.2MW DC Solar Farm located 9km's South of Cohuna, Victoria. The project is a development of the Leeson Group a Melbourne based renewable energy company.

Cohuna solar farm photo from drone

Project Details

  • 22kV AC connection to the Cohuna Zone Substation.
  • 100 people employed at peak construction and 4-6 ongoing jobs for operation.
  • Development Approval 22nd November 2017 and grid connection approved December 2018.
  • Project Value $45 million. Construction complete and now operational.

In the early days of development

In the early days of solar farms development in Australia our founder and director Peter Leeson was travelling through northern Victoria talking with farmers and community about renewable energy and the potential for a solar farm in the region.

After many hours of consultation with the Gannawarra Shire Council, local community members and business leaders in the area this site was found which was once a generational dairy farm.

Discussions with the landowner discussed the history of the land being in the family for generations and the owners desire as a custodian of the farm to transition the land from a dairy farm to a viable future agricultural site.
Peter Leeson profile photo from Leeson Group


Consultation with the community and planning approval

Consultation with community progressed with a planning application submitted that saw the most viable agricultural land in the centre of the site remaining for agricultural use which split the solar farm design into two areas in the north and the south. Planning approval was obtained  and the project progressed through power system studies and eventually obtained a grid connection to connect to Cohuna Zone Substation. This was the second solar farm by Leeson Group to achieve all required approvals and part of a pipeline of over 1GW of solar farms throughout Australia.

Victorian Renewable Energy Auction

The project was bid into the Victorian Renewable Energy Auction with Enel Green Power to help Victoria achieve their target of 25% renewable energy by 2025 which has now been increased to 50% renewable energy by 2030. The project was successful in the Victorian Renewable Energy Auction and was one of 5 solar and wind projects that obtained the Victorian Government support agreement.



victoria and approve renewable energy farms with cohuna solar farm

Cohuna Solar Farm Construction

The project has since been constructed providing jobs to 700 different individuals and bringing $20 million in investment to local businesses and communities.

The successful development of this project could not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of the Leeson Group team and Leeson Groups partners and consultants.
Our History

Project Status

Approved planning application for Cohuna Solar Farm
2017
Development Approval Granted
Submitted Planning Application for Cohuna Solar Farm.
Approved connection application was done in 2018 for Cohuna Solar Farm
2018
Grid Connection
Connection application studies being conducted on Cohuna Solar Farm.
Image of cohuna solar farm construction complete
2021
Construction Complete
The physical construction of the Cohuna solar farm is finished in 2021.
cohuna solar farm operational.
2022
Operational
Cohuna Solar Farm has been connected and is now providing power to the grid.

Learn more about
Cohuna Solar Farm

To learn more about the project or to contact Enel Green Power the owner/operator or Cohuna Solar Farm please go to their Website.


Useful Links
reneweconomy.com.au
"Victoria to support six wind and solar farms after overwhelming response to auction."
Read Article

energy.vic.gov.au
“Face Sheet Cohuna June 20”
Read Fact Sheet

Pv-magazine-australia.com
“Victorian solar farm included in international agrisolar program”
Read Article

Pv-magazine-australia.com
“Australian solar park to host crops as part of agrisolarprogram”
Read Article