Planning Approval For Solar Panels

The nsw government has released a new guideline for large scale solar energy projects.

Planning approval for solar panels. If you re planning to build a new structure such as a gazebo arbor or patio covering to hold your solar panels the structure needs to be designed by a structural engineer and approved by the building department. In certain areas ground mounted solar arrays require soils engineering to determine the soil class. Sydney and regional planning panels were introduced to nsw in 2009 to strengthen decision making on regionally significant development applications and other planning matters. This deemed that the installation of solar panels became a permitted development.

Each panel is an independent body that is not subject to the direction of the minister. Stand alone solar equipment panels not on a building but within the grounds of a house or a block of flats building regulations. Solar equipment mounted on a house or a block of flats or on a building within the curtilage. There are however important limits and conditions detailed on the following pages which must be met to benefit from these permitted development rights.

This is a financial agreement where a developer arranges for the design permitting financing and installation on a consumer s property at little to no upfront cost. The exact requirements for getting grid connected will vary with the solar customer s network operator essential energy is one example who we ve written about previously but fortunately this is fairly straightforward for most small scale systems 10kw. However on this page we lay out exactly what you need to do the planning you need and the regulations you need to follow in order to have solar panels or tiles installed. In april 2008 changes to legislation were made.

Ppas allow consumers to host solar energy systems owned by solar companies and purchase back the electricity generated. As a result of. Planning permission for solar panels the good news is that here in the uk there is no requirement for planning permission for solar panels. Anyone planning on going solar in nsw will need to file certain paperwork to get their system connected to the electricity grid.

There are some restrictions though. This guideline provides the community industry applicants and regulators with information on the planning framework for the assessment and approval of state significant large scale solar energy projects. The installation of solar panels and equipment on residential buildings and land may be permitted development with no need to apply to the local planning authority for planning permission. If you are installing a system that is less than 10kw the solar system is an exempt development division 4 39 3 f vi.

There are five sydney planning panels and four regional planning panels across nsw.