Solar farm powers up - reaching critical milestone

The SEC Renewable Energy Park – Horsham solar farm has connected to the electricity grid for the first time, bringing the project a step closer to generating 100% renewable electricity.

The critical development means the project’s solar farm has moved from mechanical completion into commissioning and energisation, which involves safely connecting the solar farm to the electricity grid, in preparation for operation in 2027.

SEC’s Executive General Manager, Assets, Lane Crockett said the project was part of SEC’s work delivering publicly owned renewable electricity for Victorians.

“The SEC Renewable Energy Park – Horsham will be operational in 2027 and play an important role in Victoria’s energy transition. It will support the state’s planned retirement of key coal assets, including Yallourn, which is scheduled to close in 2028,” Mr Crockett said.

“What we are marking today is one of the most important milestones on any renewable energy project as it moves from construction to contributing renewable energy to the grid.”

“Before this stage, a project must complete thousands of installation, construction, and safety activities, which must then pass inspections, testing, and safety checks to ensure they operate correctly and safely.”

The solar farm will now proceed through two preparation stages, known as hot commissioning and hold point testing. This staged process includes gradually switching on and testing different parts of the solar farm, including the substations, transformers, underground cables, inverters, and other electrical equipment.

The project’s next steps include preparing for the arrival and installation of the battery energy storage system later this year.

The project’s solar farm panels and a 100-megawatt, two-hour battery system will have the capacity to power more than 51,000 Victorian homes each year when it begins commercial operation in 2027.

It is also creating local jobs, developing skills and helping to accelerate Victoria’s renewable energy transition by building the infrastructure the state needs.

More than 400 people have worked on the project to date, including many tradespeople from the local community and surrounding areas. The project has also employed around 20 apprentices and trainees who are gaining valuable hands-on experience in Victoria’s growing renewable energy sector.

The solar farm component of the project has completed all major construction tasks, including the installation of 212,296 solar panels, a tracker system, a 162.5-tonne transformer, switch room substation and high-voltage infrastructure, cables and earth grid.

SEC recently accepted applications from local community groups and organisations to the SEC Renewable Energy Park – Horsham Community Benefit Fund for initiatives that will deliver benefits for the Horsham region.

In 2026, SEC will invest $126,000 through the fund across the Horsham local government area, combining three years’ worth of funding during the construction phase of the project. Grants of up to $25,000 per project are available for initiatives that strengthen local connections, build resilience and create positive outcomes for the community.

Once operational, the fund will invest $3 million in local projects, initiatives and services over the project’s lifetime.