October 6 (Renewables Now) - An Aussie developer has recently secured planning approval for a roughly AUD-180-million (USD 131m/EUR 113m) project to transform a former landfill site in south-east Melbourne into a renewable energy hub.

The Progress Power project envisages the installation of a battery storage facility of up to 115 MW and 54,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels that will be able to generate some 39,000 MWh of power annually. The developers say that Progress Power is “Australia’s first utility-scale renewable energy facility developed on a metropolitan landfill.”

On September 9, the Greater Dandenong City Council approved a planning permit for the scheme and the developers are now preparing final plans for the former landfill site between Clarke Road and Westall Road in Springvale South. This next phase is seen to be completed within 12 months.

If everything goes as planned, the plant should begin operation in 2023.

Progress Power is designed with a unique cap that will enable the construction of the renewable energy facility on top of the closed landfill. The design solves a longstanding problem for Melbourne Water by successfully incorporating 1.3 million tonnes of clay-enriched biosolids, the announcement says.

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.729/EUR 0.628)

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