Bomen Solar Farm
Project overview
Located 10 km north-east of Wagga Wagga city centre on Wiradjuri land, in the Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct, Bomen Solar Farm is a 100 MW solar farm and battery built by Australian developer Spark Renewables.
Operating since 2020, its 310,000 solar panels generate 220 GWh of clean energy every year which is enough to power ~36,000 Australian homes.
The partnership with Flow Power
In 2018, Flow Power secured an offtake agreement for more than half of Bomen Solar Farm’s output, adding 69 MW to its ever-growing portfolio of renewable generation projects.
This offtake powers its Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), delivering low-cost energy linked to solar generation to NSW business customers for up to ten years.
Flow Power customers, Sydney Church of England Girl’s Grammar School, leading winemaker Australian Vintage and iconic snack food manufacturer Snack Brands are benefitting from energy supply arrangements virtually linked to the Bomen Solar Farm via a PPA.
Green, growing and giving back
Bomen Solar Farm provides power to Westpac under a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement. The Power Purchase Agreement underpins the $1 million Bomen Solar Farm Community Fund supporting “agri-solar” initiatives on site. This partnership with Westpac has not only allowed Spark Renewables to deliver the largest community benefit fund in Australia for a solar project at inception, but also create a long-lasting legacy of positive impact through creating a program that will support the community for at least a decade to come.
The Bomen Solar Farm shares its land with five beehives, belonging to local Wagga Wagga beekeepers.
Focused on developing sustainable and eco-friendly beekeeping methods, Queen & Honey are providing honey and keeping bees, who pollinate food crops, thriving.
This initiative is part of Spark Renewables’ ongoing commitment to achieving co-existence between agricultural land and renewable energy projects.
The Bomen Solar Farm is also home to more than 300 Merino sheep, meaning more agricultural productivity and less mowing and spraying.
Additionally, Charles Sturt University is currently conducting an “agrisolar” research trial on site, studying pasture mixes that are suitable to grow under panels and are good for sheep grazing.
The Bomen Solar Farm community fund is supporting the greening of Wagga Wagga’s City Council and Eunony Valley.
$250,000 in long-term funding is being invested in revegetating 58 hectares of local land with 51,000 native plants – including eucalyptus and acacia.
$100,000 has been granted to local Eunony Valley residents for greening and biodiversity projects on their land.
To improve the social, educational and employment outcomes of Wagga Wagga’s youth, the Bomen Solar Farm community farm fund provides $500,000 in funding for ten years to local high school, Mount Austin, through:
The Transition Program: helping year 12 students develop the skills needed to transition into life beyond high school.
Girls @ the Centre Program: supporting young women in years 7-12, empowering them to set themselves up for success later in life.
The Bomen Solar Farm Community Fund supports the local Eunony Bushfire Brigade by contributing towards its operational expenses for five years.
It has also contributed towards an expansion of the Brigade’s vehicle storage facilities.
Abbeyfield Kooringal provides safe and affordable housing for people in Wagga Wagga with an intellectual disability.
The Bomen Solar Farm Community Fund has donated $10,000 in solar installations, resulting in more affordable electricity and earnings from excess solar generation for residents.
During the construction of Bomen Solar Farm, it conducted the ‘Women in Solar’ program, encouraging women to work in the construction of solar farms.
The four-week program involved training and qualifying 12 diverse Wagga Wagga women in solar panel installation. This initiative aims to combat traditional barriers to roles in the industry, with many of the participants still employed in the industry.
How does the Bomen Solar Farm work?
If you’d like to know more about Bomen Solar Farm, get in touch with Flow Power today.
Existing Flow Power customers, contact your dedicated account managers.
If you’re not a Flow Power customer, contact our friendly team today.