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.

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.

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.

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.