A significant grass fire has forced the shutdown of the Wellington North solar farm, one of Australia’s largest solar energy facilities, located in central western New South Wales. The incident occurred in the early afternoon on December 6, 2023, during a severe heatwave that has resulted in numerous fires across the state and the destruction of many homes and buildings.
The 400 megawatt (MW) facility, owned by Lightsource bp, ceased operations shortly after 13:00 local time, as indicated by market data. The Rural Fire Service reported that the fire, which spanned approximately 92 hectares, was brought under control by 14:35.
In a statement to Renew Economy, Lightsource bp confirmed the occurrence of the fire at their Wellington North solar farm. “Our incident response protocols were activated immediately, and our teams worked closely with emergency services as they managed the situation,” the company stated. They emphasized that the safety of personnel on-site and in surrounding areas remains their top priority.
The company further noted that the fire is now fully under control and that teams are continuing to monitor the site closely. While assessments of the damage are ongoing, Lightsource bp stated they are working to restore operations in the coming days. Regarding the cause of the fire, the company mentioned that their team is conducting investigations to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Wellington North solar farm, which began supplying power to the grid in June 2024, generated significant attention on social media following the fire. Philip Toynton, the deputy mayor of Dubbo and a vocal critic of renewable energy projects, posted images and comments regarding the incident. “This is the thing that happens with renewable energy,” Toynton remarked in a video shared on Facebook, adding, “Zero emissions my backside.” It is important to note that some individuals mistakenly identified the affected facility as the 200 MW Wellington solar farm, which is a separate project originally developed by Lightsource bp but has since been sold.
As the situation develops, further updates from Lightsource bp and the Rural Fire Service are anticipated to clarify the extent of the damage and the timeline for recovery. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by renewable energy facilities in extreme weather conditions, raising discussions about safety measures and environmental impacts.
