Federal environmental approval cleared for major Bendigo-area solar farm

The federal environment minister has granted environmental approval for the 500-megawatt Loddon Valley Solar Farm proposed for agricultural land 25 kilometres northwest of Bendigo, clearing the way for the $680 million project to proceed to construction in 2027. The project will be one of the largest single-site solar farms in Victoria and will contribute significantly to the renewable energy supply that the state needs to achieve its 95 per cent renewable electricity target by 2035.

The Loddon Valley Solar project is being developed by Neoen, the French renewable energy company that also developed the Hornsdale Power Reserve battery in South Australia and the Bulgana Green Power Hub in western Victoria. The company confirmed that it has secured a power purchase agreement with the Victorian government's Renewable Energy Zone procurement process and that financial close is expected before the end of 2026.

The project will create approximately 400 construction jobs over its 18-month construction period, with Neoen's local content strategy committing to source labour from Bendigo and the Loddon Valley region wherever the skills are available locally. The permanent operations and maintenance workforce will be smaller — approximately 25 people — but will be skilled positions that offer long-term employment at above-regional-average wages.

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