58 MW
installed capacity
Mokoan Solar Farm
58 MW Solar Project
About Mokoan Solar Farm
Located on Lee Road and Nelson Road, Winton, in the Hume Region of Victoria, Mokoan Solar farm is European Energy’s first constructed project in Australia.
The project received Development Approval from Benalla Rural City Council in December 2018, with a subsequent expansion gaining approval from the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning in June 2020. Spanning 94 hectares, the land for the project has primarily been utilised for grazing purposes. EE acquired the project from Lightsource bp in December 2022, and Final Investment Decision was achieved in late 2023.
Construction of the project has now been completed, with first power produced in December 2024. The solar farm has now commenced commissioning and grid compliance testing and is on track to be fully operational in June 2025.
113 GWh / year
annual production capacity
94 hectares
of land
18,000+ Homes
powered each year
85,000+
metric tonnes of carbon emissions saved
2025
expected grid connection
“We are thrilled to complete construction of our first solar project in Australia. We see this as the beginning of many projects by European Energy in the country. We are eager to play a part in Australia’s energy transition with our team of local renewable energy experts.”Catriona McLeod, Country Manager Australia, European Energy
FAQ
How will the solar installation be visually screened from the roads and adjoining properties?
The project includes a new native vegetation screen along boundaries to help filter views of the proposed solar installation. Screen planting is required to be implemented to the satisfactory standard of the Council prior to the solar installation use commencing.
Will the solar installations result in substantial glare, particularly to the road?
The solar installation has been designed to minimise any potential for glare to surrounding areas. The solar panels are provided with a non-reflective coating to increase efficiency and do not create any adverse glare impacts. To further reduce the potential for glare, the site is being adequately screened by border vegetation.
Will the solar installation be visible from nearby country towns of Benalla or Glenrowan?
The solar installation will not be visible from nearby Benalla or Glenrowan and will therefore have very little impact on amenity or liveability standards.
Why are solar installations allowed within the farming zone?
A Renewable Energy Facility such as a solar installation is an allowable use under the provisions of the Farming Zone provided a planning permit has been granted by the Responsible Authority. Sheep will still be able to graze the land whilst the solar installations are in place. This provides a balance between delivering renewable sources, and still allowing for some agricultural use of the land. The Hume Regional Growth Plan 2014 does not identify the site as “Strategic Agricultural Land”. This plan specifically provides support for renewable energy as a positive opportunity to diversify the economy and opportunities within the region.
How does the solar installation respond to bushfire concerns?
The project has a Emergency Preparedness and Response Management Plan which has been reviewed and endorsed. The solar panels have been designed using the most recent solar technologies. There has been no international evidence to indicate solar installations increase risk of bushfires.
Contact
Get in touch:
For any complaints, questions and queries on the project, reach out to our team on 1300 261 667 or infoaus@europeanenergy.com.
You can also get in contact with our Project Manager, Corey Kinnear.
