As large-scale solar developments continue to expand across regional New South Wales, particularly within Renewable Energy Zones (REZs), communities and landholders want reliable information about the potential impacts of solar infrastructure on farming land.
Through a new collaboration supported by TRaCE, researchers from the University of Newcastle are partnering with six regional NSW councils to investigate under what specific circumstances large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) developments could chemically interact with their environment. Participating councils include Tamworth Regional Council, Muswellbrook Shire Council, Mid-Western Regional Council, Hay Shire Council, Dubbo Regional Council, and Singleton Council.
Led by Dr Jessica Allen from the School of Engineering, in collaboration with the School of Science, the project will deliver an independent review of national and international research examining ground-mounted solar PV systems commonly used in large solar farms. The review will assess existing evidence relating to the potential for solar infrastructure to interact with its surroundings.
This research comes at a time when questions about solar farm development are becoming increasingly prominent in regional communities.
Concerns about possible soil impacts from PV panels and associated infrastructure have been amplified through media coverage, community discussions, and recent updates to Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) requirements. The LPA requirements encourage producers to consider infrastructure condition and end-of-life management as part of animal welfare practices.
Rather than testing solar farm soils directly, this first-stage project will focus on consolidating and evaluating existing scientific evidence. The review will identify any existing information regarding panel interactions with the environment, and environmental conditions existing studies have been conducted under to date. It will also distinguish evidence-based findings from anecdotal claims and highlight key knowledge gaps requiring further investigation.
The findings will provide participating councils with a credible and defensible evidence base to support planning decisions, policy development, stakeholder engagement and community discussions about renewable energy projects. The work will also help landholders better understand the opportunities and risks associated with balancing renewable energy opportunities with ongoing agricultural production.
Ultimately, the project aims to support evidence-informed decision making while laying the groundwork for future applied research. By bringing together researchers, councils and regional communities, this collaboration demonstrates how TRaCE can help address emerging challenges associated with the clean energy transition and ensure that regional concerns are informed by scientific evidence.
This project is one of several council collaborations supported through TRaCE, alongside partnerships with the City of Newcastle on food organics recycling and research helping regional communities navigate the rollout of REZs across NSW.
