SHASA members Andrew Everard and Thomas Schild attended the official ceremony on 17th of November of the new Shoalhaven Community Solar Farm located just off the BTU road near Nowra hill. The 7850 (500W) panels of 3MW solar farm is expected to generate 6,000 MWh of fossil fuel free electricity per year. A significant portion of this output is committed to the Sydney City Council through a 10 year power purchase agreement. The land for the site has been leased from the Shoalhaven City Council for an initial period of 30 years. The $5m project was in part funded by members of the community.
SHASA member Thomas Schild said “The community solar farm is the brainchild of Repower Shoalhaven, whose members worked tirelessly and passionately to turn the idea into a reality. Right behind them were the Shoalhaven City Council which made the land available. Flow Power provided most of the finance and with its contractors, mostly local firms, built the solar farm. Sydney City Council is a major customer for the power being generated. Which, now sources all of its electricity from renewable sources.”
“A community solar farm will give people in the Eurobodalla the opportunity to invest in solar and make a good financial return, including those unable to install rooftop solar” said SHASA President Kathryn Maxwell.
This measure would complement the 1.2MW of rooftop solar that has been installed through the SHASA Solar Bulk Buy and SHASA’s drive the change to electric cars program of works.
Kathryn Maxwell said “A key aspiration of SHASA is to have a community solar farm in the Eurobodalla. The Mayne Team, Eurobodalla Labor and The Eurobodalla Greens candidates have committed to identifying a suitable site for a community solar farm in the Eurobodalla. SHASA calls on the other candidates to commit to this action which will create many jobs, provide members of the community with a sound financial investment, and generate green electricity locally”.
Media contact: Kathryn Maxwell 0467 558 645