GOULBURN can be a leading centre for renewable energy, according to a Social Enterprise specialising in solar technology.
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“You have so much wind here, with many local wind farms harnessing it already,” Chief Energy Officer of Suncrowd, Chris Cooper said.
“As well, you have the prospect of having one of the first community-owned solar farms in the country in this city. On top of this, the Veolia Bioreactor is down the road - so it really is a renewable energy hub here.”
Suncrowd has partnered with Community Energy For Goulburn (CE4G) to create a NSW wide bulk buy of solar panels, batteries and meters.
“However there are only 1600 solar energy systems on rooftops (on one in eight houses) in the Goulburn Mulwaree area, so there is a lag in take up of rooftop solar systems here compared to other areas,” Mr Cooper said.
To help combat this and coinciding with the end of the NSW 60-cent feed-in solar tariff on December 31, Suncrowd and CE4G are holding a Goulburn Solar Expo in the city on November 2 at the Workers Club.
“At the expo, we will be bringing the who’s who of the Australian solar industry,” Mr Cooper said.
“This includes Tesla, LG Chem (the leading battery seller in Australia), Tindo Solar, the country’s only solar panel makers, and energy retailers such as Powershop and Diamond Energy.”
CE4G chair Peter Fraser said the Solar Expo was excited about holding the first Solar Expo in Goulburn.
“There will be a whole range of different technologies on display at the Expo and suppliers will be there to answer questions. Anyone interested in either expanding their existing system or building a system from scratch will be able to get more information,” Mr Fraser said.
“It means that not only will there be a great chance to see the products and talk to the suppliers before purchasing, but with such a large number of buyers there will be a good discount off the normal price for these products.”
CE4G is also developing the solar farm in Goulburn to be located on a former fuel depot site off the Sydney Road.