Four new large-scale solar farms totalling 275MW of grid-connected capacity have been approved by the New South Wales government.

State minister for planning Anthony Roberts said on Friday that solar projects had been approved for development in Nevertire, Walgett, Gilgandra and Metz in central and northern NSW, and would bring with them up to 645 construction jobs.

Nevertire, which is being developed in the town of the same name by Epuron, will be 105MW; the Metz Solar Farm, proposed for the New England town of Hillgrove by Infinergy Pacific, will be 100MW. Gilgandra, by French outfit Neoen, is to be 40MW; and Walgett, again by Epuron, will be 29MW.

The four new large-scale solar projects bring the total number now approved by the NSW government to 16 across the state, including Maoneng’s massive 200MW Sunraysia solar farm project near Balranald in western NSW, which in June became the largest in the state to receive planning approval.

“When the four new farms begin operation, NSW’s 16 large-scale solar farms will generate sustainable power for 423,000 households, with a combined capacity for 1,131 megawatts of renewable energy,” Minister Roberts said on Friday.

“NSW continues to lead Australia in large-scale solar. We are committed to our country’s Renewable Energy Target and the State’s Renewable Energy Action Plan, and we are well on the way toward the 20 per cent target for renewable energy by 2020,” he said.

“Our focus is on ensuring energy security and affordability for our communities, businesses and services.”

“North-west NSW is fast becoming one of the solar power generation hubs of the state, and our solar investment is making a huge contribution to our clean, renewable energy targets,” he said.

With the addition of these four new solar farms, the Department has now approved 16 new large-scale solar projects across NSW.

“When the four new farms begin operation, NSW’s 16 large-scale solar farms will generate sustainable power for 423,000 households, with a combined capacity for 1,131 megawatts of renewable energy,” he said.