The Bendemeer Renewable Energy Hub is a sustainable project comprising of a 257MW DC solar field and 360MW wind farm, co-located in the beautiful community of Bendemeer, in the New England region of New South Wales.

This exciting project will consist of up to 430,000 solar panels and approximately 51 wind turbines. The solar project will be commenced first, followed by the wind farm, in order to meet the needs of the National Electricity Market. Other ancillary facilities such as transmission lines, switchyard, access roads (upgrading of existing roads and new built), operations and maintenance facilities will also be built.

This $1.2 billion project will provide a huge economic boost to the local community of Bendemeer and wider Tamworth region. More than 557 jobs will be created during the construction and operational phases of the project, which will also deliver unique opportunities for local skills growth, education and learning.

The Bendemeer Renewable Energy Hub will make important contributions towards the NSW Government&rsquo s net-zero emissions by 2050, by supplying clean renewable energy into the grid. This massive amount of clean energy is critical to replace the fossil energy from nearby coal-fired power plants, which will be decommissioned progressively from 2023.

The Bendemeer Renewable Energy Hub solar project will create a range of social and economic opportunities for the Bendemeer region and local surrounding areas, as well as creating environmental benefits for the New England region to build a sustainable future with renewable energy. 

The proposed solar farm will generate an estimated 577,000 MWh of renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 420,000 tonnes CO2, per year. For scale, the project will generate enough energy equivalent to powering 74,000 NSW homes!   

The solar farm will cover an area of up to 350.8 hectares, and there will be approximately 430,000 solar modules created for the project. The solar panel technology will be monocrystalline silicon, and will use up to 5,000 single-axis mounting technology trackers. With a project nameplate (DC) rating of 255 MW, the total disturbance footprint will span across approximately 389 hectares (961 acres).

Approval -  anticipated early 2026

Additional Info,

https://bendemeerenergyhub.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BENDEMEER_SOLAR_FARM_PROJECT_AMENDMENTS_2025.pdf
 

Your Local Project Team

The Bendemeer Renewable Project Team is based locally (in Tamworth and Armidale) to ensure that we can provide locally-accessible information and contact with the community. The team is committed to working with the community to realise the benefits of the project and deliver shared economic and environmental outcomes.

We believe in building long-term relationships and trust with the whole community and are committed to being part of the project journey for the long-term. This includes ensuring that our local team provide a presence to deliver clear information about the project and making it possible for the community to easily participate in the process.

 

About Athena Energy Australia

Athena Energy Australia (Holdings) Pty Ltd was founded in Australia in 2019 as a subsidiary of Athena Energy Holdings Pty Ltd (a member of the Metis Energy Group). Metis Energy is listed on the Singapore stock exchange (SG:L02). Headquartered in Singapore, the core business of Athena spans a range of renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind and energy storage projects. Athena develops, finances, constructs, owns and operates its projects as a fully integrated renewable energy company, with a genuine long-term approach.

Athena&rsquo s core focus in Australia is long-term, created through project development and delivery of a sustainable pipeline of projects. Athena&rsquo s aim is to deliver quality projects to meet growing energy demands, supplying consistent, high-quality energy at a competitive cost. Athena has a deep understanding of the sector through proven delivery of renewable energy across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. As a responsible company with a long-term vision, demonstrated through a sustainable growth strategy, underpinned by community engagement, Athena is committed to integrating internationally recognised environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards into its business practices.

As a key player in the low-carbon energy transition, Athena currently has more than 1.4 GW in renewables projects under development or operational in the APAC region, with about 700 MW of solar energy projects, 200 MW of energy storage projects and 500 MW of wind energy projects. Athena&rsquo s goal is to achieve 2 GW of renewable energy production in Australia and aiming to be a central participant in Australia&rsquo s energy transition, whilst contributing to a global net zero future and greener society.