About the Energy Park
An Overview
The Kyoto Energy Park project describes an Integrated Renewable Energy Park (an eco-generating power station that generates electricity from renewable sources such as the wind, water and the sun) located west of Scone in the Upper Hunter Valley.
In 1999 the NSW Government installed a wind mast on the Kyoto site to monitor long term wind resources, part of a state wide study into wind regimes across NSW. Since then the range west of Scone has proven to be an ideal location for generation of energy from resources such as wind, solar and water under gravity.
The Kyoto Energy Park site is situated on 2 large landholdings located approximately 12-14 kilometres west of the Scone township. The land is used primarily for sheep and cattle grazing and other agricultural activities.
The project application has approval for the construction and installation of the following eco-generating devices and associated facilities. These include the following components:
- 31 x 2.1-3.0MW Wind Turbine Generators (Mountain Station);
- 3 x 2.1-3.0MW Wind Turbine Generators (Middlebrook Station);
- Installation of a 3-10MW Solar Photovoltaic Array (Mt Moobi Solar PV Farm);
- Installation of a 1MW Mini-hydro System (Closed Loop);
- Site substation, Switchyard and Control room;
- Construction of internal access tracks and hardstand areas;
- A Maintenance shed;
- A Manager's residence;
- A Visitor's and Education Centre;
- Transmission line connection to the grid network
As part of the approval 67 conditions have been placed on the project. These conditions relate to:
- Construction
- Operational noise management
- Visual amenity
- Environmental management - both flora and fauna
- Traffic and transport
- Community contributions through the Moobi Foundation
- Continued community consultion
- Hazards and risks of operation
The Kyoto Energy Park Scone represents a positive step towards achieving global greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets set by the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and ratified by the Australian Government in 2007.
