Lismore City Council has voted in favour of proceeding with the final stage of work on what could become Australia’s very first council-community solarfarm.
The project ~ currently known as Lismore Community Solar ~ will comprise two 100kW solarfarms, situated at each of Goonellabah Sports Aquatic Centre and East Lismore Sewage Treatment Plant.
Finance for the projects is to be sourced from local community investors, however the real purpose of community energy is to support the leadership, influence and capacity of the community to impact on changes towards a renewable and sustainable system of energy.
Over the last 18 months, the ‘solar coaster’ of Australian renewable energy policy has continued to affect what models of community energy are viable. The current political and policy uncertainty surrounding the Australian Renewable Energy Target has constrained the size of feasible projects to be around 100kW. This smaller project size has also necessitated a change of legal structure and financial model, to a simpler arrangement ~ using a loan rather than power-purchase arrangement ~ though importantly still funded by community investors.
The priority now for the Lismore Community Solarfarms is to secure additional funding for the final stage of pre-community investment and pre-construction work. All going well this will be completed by mid 2015.
Lismore City Council have also approved their 100% Renewable Energy Master Plan, placing them at the forefront of local government in realising the opportunities and benefits of renewable energy. It is inspiring to see Council’s their extraordinary leadership and commitment to renewable energy, including the community solarfarm.
Read more:
Solar farms at Goonellabah, Lismore | The Northern Star
Solarfarm considered by Council | NBN News
Farming the Sun
