Grass Fire Disrupts Major Australian Solar Farm Operations for One Day
A substantial grass fire has compelled the shutdown of one of Australia’s largest solar farms, the 400 megawatt (MW) Wellington North facility situated in the central west of New South Wales. Fortunately, the facility is now back online and operating at nearly full capacity.
The incident unfolded in the early afternoon on Saturday, coinciding with a heatwave that prompted numerous fires throughout the state, resulting in the destruction of several homes and buildings in various areas.
Fire Response and Recovery
Market data indicates that the Wellington North solar farm, managed by Lightsource bp, swiftly ceased operations shortly after 1pm on Saturday. The Rural Fire Service reported that the 92-hectare fire at the site was contained by 2.35pm.
In a statement emailed to Renew Economy, Lightsource bp confirmed the occurrence of the fire during the extreme heat conditions on Saturday, 6 December. “Our incident response protocols were activated immediately, and our teams collaborated closely with emergency services to handle the situation. The ongoing safety of those on site and in nearby areas is our utmost priority,” they stated. The solar farm is now closely monitored, and the emergency services’ rapid response has been praised. Reports indicate that no sheep on the site have been affected by the blaze.
Resumption of Services
By Sunday afternoon, operations were restored, and Lightsource bp reported on Monday that the solar farm was functioning at 90 per cent capacity, with prospects of reaching full capacity shortly. “Assessments are ongoing, but damage is confined to the north-east corner of the site. At this time, we do not anticipate any damage to major equipment,” the company added.
Regarding the cause of the fire, Lightsource bp stated they are investigating the matter further. The Wellington North solar farm began supplying energy to the grid in June 2024.
Public Reactions
The incident has sparked considerable chatter on social media, particularly from Dubbo’s deputy mayor, Councillor Philip Toynton, known for his critical stance on renewable energy projects. He shared images and messages about the fire, which garnered over 700 predominantly critical comments about renewable energy.
In a video posted to Facebook, Toynton remarked, “This is the issue with renewable energy. Zero emissions my backside.” He and others mistakenly referred to the affected facility as the 200 MW Wellington solar farm, which is a different establishment that was also developed by Lightsource bp but has since been sold.
