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University of Newcastle Goes Solar!

16/2/2018

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By Alec Roberts CLEANaS and Tim Roberts TFI


​In 2017 the UON installed a 278 panel 75 kilowatt system atop the library building in Ourimbah. This system is equivalent to powering 19 homes, reducing carbon emissions equal to taking 37 cars off the road or planting and growing to maturity over 660 trees.

The Industry Development Centre (home of the Tom Farrell Institute) had 32 panels (approximately 8.6 kW) installed in late 2016. 

In 2016 the Tom Farrell Institute in conjunction with CLEANaS conducted a feasibility study on the Callaghan Campus going 100% renewable energy by 2020.  For more information...

The University of Newcastle is committed to a 20% reduction on CO2 emissions per meter square of gross floor area by 2020 from a 2007 baseline.   Through increased funding of on-site energy efficiency and renewable energy options together with the 2.0 MW system, the University is expecting to meet this commitment.


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Community Renewable Energy Toolkit Workshop

6/12/2017

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Frontier Impact Group conducted a Community Renewable Energy Toolkit Workshop at Rutherford NSW on 6-7th December 2017 for community energy groups, local governments, and not-for-profits.
 
Frontier Impact Group has been involved in assisting in the development of renewable energy projects across Australia. Recently Frontier Impact Group completed a project that addressed the funding options for communities to build renewable energy projects with a number of partners including the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), Clean Energy Finance Corporate, Coaliton for Community Energy, NSW government, Yarra Community Solar, Embark and many others. They have also been exploring the idea of community cooperative models and see the key driver is for communities to use community investors as equity partners in their own projects.
 
The workshop was hosted by Fiona Lewis from NSW Government Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and targeted local councils, community energy groups, NFP organisations and local businesses in the Greater Hunter and Central Coast regions.  Presenters included: Jennifer Lauber Patterson and Mal Campbell from Frontier Impact Group and Tom Nockolds from Pingala.
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Participants at the workshop
The workshop was well supported by local community energy groups including: CLEANaS, Climate Action Newcastle, Energise Gloucester, and Central Coast Community Energy, and local community groups such as Sustaining the Williams Valley and Toronto Hub, representatives from communities in Dungog, Bulga, Clarence Town and Westbrook (near Singleton), and both Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens Councils.
 
The workshop was supported by the NSW Government Department of Planning and Environment and ARENA and aimed to provide participants with the tools needed to enable community renewable projects to get off the ground quickly with sound economic and environmental outcomes. The workshops sought to provide an in-depth understanding of the Community Renewable Energy Toolkit, which was developed as a guide for developing community solar projects by Frontier Impact Group.

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The Funding Toolkit has been set up on a modular basis and includes a series of guidebooks. You can download the guidebooks at www.frontierimpact.com.au/toolkit.
 
Training was provided to support the use of the toolkit and included:
  • Completing the planning and financial assessment of a real project;
  • Identify key challenges in securing funding for Community Energy projects and how to overcome them;
  • Recognising the steps required to develop large and small-scale Behind the Meter Solar PV projects;
  • Managing risks associated with the development of Solar PV Projects;
  • Learning how to use and apply the financial model template (spreadsheet) for Behind the Meter Solar PV projects; and
  • Understanding the sharing of benefits between host sites and Behind the Meter Solar PV project investors.
 
The different forms of project funding for community renewable energy projects and factors that affect the choice of funding were described including:
  • Equity funding: Retail and wholesale investors, institutional funds/banks (social impact funds), sweat equity and angel investors;
  • Debt funding: Retail and wholesale investors, institutional funds/banks, angel investors, corporate balance sheets, and equipment lease companies.
  • Grants
  • Donations
  • In-kind support
 
Case studies presented included: the Repower Shoalhaven project and Pingala: Young Henrys Project.
 
The Behind the Meter guidebook details the key project elements of a behind the meter Solar PV project and project phases (concept, prefeasibility, feasibility and final funding phases).  The guidebook provides a logical checklist of things that need to be addressed at each phase in the project.  This would be a very useful tool for Community Energy projects to help ensure their success.
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Community financed solar - information for businesses

1/12/2017

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From left to right: Chris Harle (LMCC), Jo Muller (Central Coast Community Energy), Alec Roberts (CLEANaS), Tom Nockolds (Pingala), and Thomasen Knight (LMCC)
Lake Macquarie City Council hosted an information session on Community Financed Solar for businesses in the Lake Macquarie area on December 1st 2017.  The session was attended by representatives from businesses and community clubs around the Lake Macquarie local government area to introduce the idea of community supported funding of solar installations.

Lake Macquarie City Council is partnering with Pingala (a Sydney based Community Energy group) to facilitate community financed solar within the Lake Macquarie area.

There was good attendance despite a late change of venue with 5 clubs, and a couple of other businesses and solar vendors in attendance.

Chris Harle, Sustainability Engagement Coordinator, spoke on behalf of Lake Macquarie council on current council initiatives in sustainability and renewable energy.

Alec Roberts (Chair of CLEANaS) gave an introductory talk on community energy and the importance of energy efficiency to be included in community energy projects.  Alec also presented on CLEANaS past and present projects undertaken including Hunter Wetlands Solar project.

Tom Nockolds (Pingala Secretary) spoke about Pingala’s successful recent project Young Henrys Project, where Pingala put 115 solar panels on the roof of Young Henrys, a craft brewery in inner-west Newtown.  The 29.9kW solar system installed has enabled Young Henrys to produce “solar-powered beer”, and reduce their carbon footprint. Pingala raised finance for the project from the local community at an investor event at the brewery. Investment was through a cooperative share offer which sold out in 9 minutes! Community investors are expected to receive a ROI of between 5%-7% on their investment in the project.

Both CLEANaS and Pingala presentations spoke to what makes a good host site for and why go with community solar.  A good host site has:
  • high day-time energy demand;
  • available roof space with N-NW aspect and good access and safety;
  • long term tenure (>10 years);
  • well defined and large supporter group;
  • good visibility/contribution to region;
  • flexible and motivated building owners;
  • no access to discounted energy contracts; and
  • a project champion within the organisation, that can help galvanise support for the project

Community solar offers businesses an alternative model to private rooftop solar.  It not only protects the business against rising electricity prices and generates clean energy on site, community solar helps forge strong relationships with the local community, as members of the local community are often investors in the solar installation.

Therefore, upfront as a business:
  • Solar must stack-up for your business;
  • Financing should be something that you’re interested in, viz avoiding up-front purchase and other normal financing benefits; and
  • You are keen on Community engagement and the marketing opportunity associated with a Community Solar project.

Most clubs that attended had large membership bases and also large electricity bills.  Only one already had some solar PV installed but wished to add more if possible.  The representatives from the clubs talked about the dramatic increases in electricity bills and effects on their clubs.  They also talked about the difficulty of getting impartial advice about installing solar.
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Living Smart Festival

23/9/2017

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A busy day was had at the 2017 Living Smart Festival at Speers Point Park.  This is run by Lake Macquarie Council and they did a great job (considering the park is being refurbished at the moment).  Thanks to our volunteers that helped out on the day and to Peter who raced around to get our new banner (pictured) for the day. 
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    In the Media

    Solar gardens growing cheap electricity | Newcastle Herald 24 Sep 2018

    Lake Mac Is Living Smart
    - NBN News 22 Sep 2018

    ​University of Newcastle rolls out 2MW solar system at Callaghan Campus - RenewEconomy 

    University of Newcastle rolls out 2MW solar system at Callaghan Campus - One Step Off The Grid 27 Feb 2018  

    University of Newcastle goes solar - Bradman Recruitment Group 26 Feb 2018

    University of Newcastle goes solar - Goondiwindi Argus 25 February 2018

    Shining light: University of Newcastle goes solar - 
    ​Newcastle Herald 26 February 2018

    Community Energy, where communities take renewable energy into their own hands - The Hunter Business Review 18 September 2017


    Success of community energy a win for the world - Newcastle Herald 3 July 2017

    Renewable energy island a community triumph - Newcastle Herald 15 May 2017

    Meter smarts needed when solar bonus finishes - Newcastle Herald 12 December 2016
    ​
    Blockchain a win-win for community power trade - Newcastle Herald 21 November 2016

    Sun Shines on the Wetlands - Newcastle Herald November 2016

    The Wetlander Volume 31 Issue 2 November 2016

    Grass roots fertiliser for growth of green energy - Newcastle Herald 6 March 2016

    Hunter Wetlands Solar goes live - Newcastle Herald 16 November 2015

    Hunter Wetlands celebrates 30 years [and marks a new era of sustainability with 48 solar panels switched on] - NBN News 7 November

    The Wetlander Volume 30 Issue 2 November 2015 
     
    Tech firms plan to connect - Newcastle Herald 29 June 2015

    Hunter Wetlands To Go Solar - Hunter Headline 19 June 2015

    OPINION: New call to band together for the Wetlands - Newcastle Herald 8 June 2015

    Looking for a thriving Australian renewables sector? Look to community projects - RenewEconomy 5 June 2015

    Community solar - Energy from the ground up - ReNew Issue 129 October-December 2014

    Kooragang wind turbine sold to Tasmanian poultry farm - Newcastle Herald 15 August 2014

    Kooragang wind turbine could be saved to power surf clubs - RenewEconomy 14 July 2014

    Do I need to move overseas to work in renewables industry? - RenewEconomy 13 May 2014
    ​
    Media Releases

    ​Wetlands celebrates 30th Anniversary - Hunter Wetlands Centre 28 October 2015

    Hunter Wetlands Goes Solar - Hunter Wetlands Centre 1 July 2015

    Submissions

    ​​RET Review - Published Submissions

    CLEANaS Submission to the CAMAC in response to the discussion paper on Crowd Sourced Equity Funding

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