Overview
Beryl AU is an operational 87 MW solar PV facility located in New South Wales, Australia. It contributes to the country's renewable energy capacity under the national Renewable Energy Target.
Beryl AU is a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant located in New South Wales, Australia. With an installed capacity of 87 megawatts, it is a medium-to-large scale solar facility within the Australian renewable energy landscape. The plant is operational and feeds electricity into the National Electricity Market. The facility operates under Australia's Renewable Energy Target (RET) framework, which aims to generate 33,000 GWh of renewable electricity annually by 2020. Solar PV technology converts sunlight directly into electricity, and Beryl AU's capacity places it among the significant solar installations in the region. The plant benefits from Australia's high solar irradiance, particularly in inland New South Wales. Environmentally, Beryl AU displaces fossil-fuel-based electricity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Solar farms like this one require land use for panel arrays but have low operational emissions. The facility supports grid stability and contributes to Australia's transition toward a lower-carbon energy system, aligning with state and national renewable energy goals.
Environmental context
The facility is situated in a rural area of New South Wales, characterized by agricultural land and natural vegetation. Solar PV installations have a moderate land-use footprint, requiring clearing for panel arrays but allowing for dual-use grazing in some cases. The region experiences high solar exposure, making it suitable for solar energy generation. Environmental considerations include habitat disturbance during construction and potential impacts on local fauna, though these are typically managed through site selection and mitigation measures.
Frequently asked questions
Beryl AU is a solar photovoltaic power plant located in New South Wales, Australia, near the coordinates 32.353°S, 149.468°E.
Beryl AU has an installed capacity of 87 megawatts (MW), making it a medium-to-large scale solar facility.
Beryl AU uses solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, which converts sunlight directly into electricity.
Beryl AU operates under Australia's Renewable Energy Target (RET), which mandates a certain amount of renewable electricity generation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
By generating electricity from solar energy, Beryl AU displaces fossil-fuel-based power, reducing carbon emissions and supporting Australia's transition to a cleaner energy mix.