Shoalhaven Community Solar Farm
Project overview
Tucked away on the south coast of New South Wales on Yuin country, Shoalhaven is bordered by mountains, coastal plains and around 100 breath taking beaches. It’s now also proudly the home of Flow Power’s Shoalhaven Community Solar Farm.
Key information
- The solar farm provides clean energy to the grid, the City of Sydney and businesses across New South Wales.
- This project was the vision of community group Repower Shoalhaven, and made real by Flow Power
- The City of Sydney’s purchasing power enabled the project’s construction.
- This is Australia’s first GreenPower Connect certified project independently certifying the PPA between City of Sydney and Flow Power directly led to the construction of a new renewable generator.
About the project
The 3 MW Shoalhaven Community Solar Farm has been primary financed, built, and is operated by Flow Power. Flow Power have a commitment through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to acquire the entire generated output for 15 years.
The farm generates and provides clean energy to the market, including Flow Power’s anchor customer, the City of Sydney.
Funding the project
This is a shared project and was funded by both Flow Power and local investors within the Shoalhaven community, who raised $500,000 to fund this project. While Flow Power is a private company, the partnership with Repower Shoalhaven, was driven by ambitions to realise the community-based project, making it the first of its kind.
Repower Shoalhaven, a community energy group and not-for-profit social enterprise that have a commitment to move away from fossil fuel generation and step towards a renewable future.
“The Shoalhaven Community Solar Farm provides a roadmap for other communities to launch their own renewable projects.”
– Matthew van der Linden, CEO, Flow Power
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The teams powering the Shoalhaven Community Solar Farm project
There were five key factors that powered this project:
The commitment of Repower Shoalhaven and their vision of supporting the transition to sustainable energy.
Repower Shoalhaven were able to secure the once unproductive land through their relationship with the local council. Without access to this land, this project would not have been possible.
$500,000 was raised by the not-for-profit group Repower Shoalhaven through community investment. The rest was financed by Flow Power, who brought in the various contractors and resources to get the project up and running.
Another key factor was the City of Sydney’s commitment to purchase a significant amount of the project’s output which underpinned the demand and commercial viability of the project. The Shoalhaven community solar farm now plays a key part towards The City of Sydney’s sustainability goals.
The final key factor was Flow Power’s commitment and dedication towards renewable energy generation, along our strong focus on empowering Australian communities to be at the centre of creating Australia’s renewable energy future.
The land for the project
The solar farm currently spreads over 5.038Ha of land leased from the Shoalhaven City Council on Yuin Country.
However, this isn’t just any piece land. Before the solar panels were installed, the project area was used as a sanitary waste deport for dumping rubbish and waste storage.
Community benefits
After an initial area clean-up and a construction phase that provided 300 jobs to local contractors, the Shoalhaven Community Solar Farm continues to provide ongoing employment and educational opportunities.
The farm additionally provides financial returns for community investors and of course, clean, and affordable energy supplied to the Australia’s energy market.
Timeline
Shoalhaven Solar Farm FAQs
No land clearance was required for this project as the majority of the site was clear, primarily covered with exotic grasses and weeds, having been previously used as a sanitary waste depot. however, as the site was previously used as a sanitary waste depot ground there was initial area maintenance required. A previously unproductive site is now responsible for generating clean, renewable energy as well as deliver benefits to the community, local businesses and community investors.
The project is 100% owned by Flow Power. The Community Investors provided debt to the project.
The City of Sydney power their operations (such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, pools, libraries, playing fields, depots, council buildings, Town Hall and the Sydney Opera House) with a Flow Power retail contract that is linked to the farm.
The City of Sydney has committed to buying energy linked to 3 renewable energy generators, including the Shoalhaven Community Solar Farm, through a Power Purchase Agreement with Flow Power. A Power Purchase Agreement is a Flow Power offering which allows customers to secure a long term commitment to support renewable generation for 10 years. Allowing businesses to reach their sustainability goals.
The City’s Power Purchase Agreement also has offtake agreements with Bomen Solar Farm and Sapphire Wind Farm. By having a diverse portfolio of both solar and wind offtake agreements, the City enjoy the benefits of two types of energy generation. When there is a lack of sunlight and therefore lower solar energy generation (e.g. at night), this can usually be supplemented with wind energy and vice versa under the Power Purchase Agreement arrangements in place.
The City are an ideal example of how forward-thinking businesses can utilise various complimentary sources of renewable energy generation to build their Power Purchase Agreement.
Read more about the City of Sydney here
These are Clean Energy Regulator accredited Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGC). With Flow Power’s Power Renewable Agreement, we nominate a specific project to give businesses a clear view to the project generating their LGCs. This reinforces their commitment to supporting renewable energy and see the output of their allocated wind and solar farm.
Like the City of Sydney, your business may also be able to enjoy the benefits of renewable energy. Get in touch with us to find out more about achieving your sustainability goals with a genuine commitment to renewables.
Yes! We would love to connect your business to the Shoalhaven Community Solar Farm. Contact our friendly Flow Power team today.
If you’d like to know more about the Shoalhaven Community Solar Farm, get in touch with Flow Power today.
1800 377 639
ProjectsTeam@ShoalhavenSolarFarm.com.au
If you’re an existing Flow Power customer, please reach out to your dedicated account manager.
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