The central Victorian community of Newstead is now home to a cutting-edge clean energy project, thanks to a partnership between community energy group, Renewable Newstead and renewable energy transition champion, Flow Power.
Joining Flow Power and Renewable Newstead in officially opening and celebrating the project was Victoria’s Minister for Climate Action, Energy and Resources, the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio and local Bendigo West Member of Parliament, the Hon. Maree Edwards, who have both shared a commitment in bringing the project to life since it was first conceived in 2008.
Read the full media release with stakeholder commentary here.
Acknowledging the land
The event commenced with a Welcome to Country by Uncle Rick Nelson – an Elder of the Dja Dja Warrung People, the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Newstead Community Energy Project is located.
For every site we develop and operate, Flow Power is committed to recognising the Traditional Owners of Country and supporting their cultural identity and values.
A Cultural Heritage Management Plan was prepared in the early stages of development to ensure care of Country was carried out during construction and will continue throughout the entire life cycle of the project to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Touring the site
Opening speeches and acknowledgements by primary project stakeholders were followed by a tour of the site. This was facilitated by Flow Power’s project engineers, who developed the project from start to finish, transforming a paddock into the renewable project it is today.
The newly completed 3 MW solar farm sits on 6.2 hectares and consists of 72 rows of bifacial panels that are configured to follow the sun, enabling maximum energy generation while reducing inter-row shading and minimising glare.
Sheep that graze the area can now shelter beneath the panels for protection from weather and predators while helping to keep grass levels down.
The site is also home to a 5 MWh battery energy storage system that features a unique DC-coupled system designed and delivered by Flow Power. The battery system will provide additional benefits by feeding energy into the grid at times of low sunshine, at night, or during supply and demand imbalances in the network.
To learn more about how the Newstead Community Energy Project works, visit the project page here.
A unique retail product for the community of Newstead
The official opening on site was followed by an information session held at the Newstead Community Centre, where local residents learned more about the electricity plan that can link their household to the project through 100% GreenPower.
Flow Power’s CEO, Matthew van der Linden, presented Flow Home – a technology-integrated electricity plan designed to help Newstead residents reduce their energy rate, while supporting real community projects and accelerating the shift to renewable energy.
Through our partnership with community group Renewable Newstead, residents can sign up to Flow Home for 100% GreenPower accredited electricity, virtually linked to their own local solar farm at Newstead. For every unit of electricity used on this plan, Newstead Community Energy Project will send an equivalent amount of clean energy into Victoria’s grid on behalf of that home.
Flow Home’s retail tariff is structured to reward customers for using energy during peak renewable generation periods, and aims to reduce use during peak demand periods, when it costs more and is typically less renewable.
The result is a retail contract designed to unlock the full potential of Australia’s renewable resources, making it easier for consumers to contribute and benefit from the energy revolution happening today.
Australia’s renewable future is in the hands of our communities
This project would not have been possible without the dream of a small community who wanted to make a difference in their own backyards.
Flow Power’s CEO, Matthew van der Linden, envisions that Newstead Community Energy Project will be the first of many community-led renewable projects, helping consumers play a pivotal role in accelerating Australia’s renewable transition.
The future of energy is really in our hands – and Flow Power has the tools to help you reshape the way you use it, for good.
To learn more about the Flow Home plan, visit our residential website here.
Any questions? We’re here to help.
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