CE4G is developing the large solar farm on the outskirts of Goulburn that will be community owned and operated. The plans for the farm are currently with Goulburn Mulwaree Council awaiting development approval.

CE4G is partnering with Suncrowd, a Social Enterprise specializing in solar technology, to create a large NSW wide bulk buy of solar panels, batteries and meters.

Community Energy for Goulburn chair Peter Fraser said CE4G would be offering the opportunity to join in this bulk buy over the next three months to anyone in the Goulburn and Crookwell region, with possible savings of up to 20 per cent off the retail prices. 

He said the scheme is timed to coincide with the end of the NSW 60-cent feed-in tariff that many people in the area signed up to seven years ago.

“This offer is open to anyone who wants to upgrade their current system with more panels, add batteries to their system, or even for those people who don’t have any system at all,” Mr Fraser said.

“With five other communities joining in this bulk buy from as far away as the North Coast and as close as the Southern Highlands, there is a real opportunity to benefit from a big discount off the normal retail prices.

“And through our Community Benefit Share model a portion of the revenue flows back into the local community to boost renewable energy projects, including the solar farm. So the community gets a benefit as well as the individuals getting a good discount.”

“If you’ve been wondering what to do about the end of the feed-in-tariff, or want to upgrade your current system with more panels or add batteries, or even get a whole new system, here’s a real chance to get involved in a bulk buy scheme that will save you money, and help the community at the same time.”

An information night will be held in November to introduce the scheme.