Innovative new solar energy agreement to supply Council’s daytime power needs

Wednesday 03 October 2018

The Inner West Council has entered into a contract to purchase power from the Moree Solar Farm. The new agreement means that approximately 25% of all Council’s energy usage will be solar powered.

The power purchase agreement for a renewables buying group of 18 councils is being coordinated by Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC).

It will deliver 4127MWh of solar power to Inner West Council each year.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said that the agreement was the first of its kind for NSW councils.

“This new solar initiative will power almost all of Council’s daytime power needs and reduce our carbon footprint by almost 4,000 tonnes a year,” he said.

“The power is also being supplied at a fixed price, protecting Council and our community from future electricity pricing shocks.”

Inner West Councillor Anna York said that the investment reflected the Inner West community’s strong support for solar and renewable energy.

“By finding creative ways to support solar we not only reduce our own Council energy costs, we also can help to stimulate the solar and renewables market,” she said.

“Inner Westies want action on climate change, and a smart, solar future. We will continue to look for opportunities like this one that deliver on all those ambitions.”

The power comes from an existing solar farm 10 kilometres south of Northern NSW country town Moree. It is operated by a specialist solar farm company, the Moree Solar Farm, one of the largest solar power plants in Australia.

It’s one of the first Australian solar farms to use a single-axis tracking system, with solar panels that follow the sun's path from east to west to maximize the energy generated during the day.

The council buying group is purchasing approximately 25 per cent of the power generated by the Moree Solar Farm.

The PPA is the latest initiative in Council’s climate strategy and renewables plan that includes:

• Becoming 100 per cent powered by renewable energy
• Achieving 100 per cent divestment from Fossil Fuels (currently at 75%, the most divested of any NSW Council
• Establishing an Office of Renewable Energy within Inner West Council
• Retrofit Council Buildings with appropriately sized Solar PV cells
• Upgrading street lights to more efficient LED lighting
  

For further information, please contact Kate Walsh on 9392 5685