A floating solar farm and a ‘Solar My School’ program run by local government carried off major awards at a summit hosted by the Cities Power Partnership (CPP).
The inaugural Cities Power Partner Summit Awards celebrates work by local government across renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport and community advocacy.
The range of climate change initiatives coming out of local government in Australia is “staggering”, according to CPP Director Alex Pearce.
Top solar gongs show strength of Australian councils
The Climate Council created the CPP, which now boasts over 100 council members. These councils represent around 45 per cent of the Australian population.
Coalition inertia on climate change and energy policy has also spurred Australian councils on.
As a result more localities are transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy – as the CPP awards demonstrate. Stand-out projects include:
- Australia’s largest floating solar farm. This won Lismore City Council the Community Engagement Achievement Award.
- Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra councils in NSW carried off the Renewable Energy Achievement Award. Their ‘Solar My School’ project won the day.
- A 100 kW solar installation at Newcastle Museum is part of a wider City of Newcastle energy upgrade. This won the Energy Efficiency Achievement Award.
Cities Power Partnership boosts local renewables
To date more than 70 councils have submitted over 300 pledges in their transition to clean, sustainable energy.
The 100 kW floating solar farm at East Lismore Sewage Treatment Plant in NSW includes 280 solar panels placed on ponds. The project is the first council-owned, community-funded solar farm in Australia.
Meanwhile, Darebin council in Melbourne’s inner north is installing 440 kW of extra solar panels on council rooftops over the next five years. It will also install 11,000kW on homes, businesses and other organisations.
Community projects key to Australian renewable transition
Strathbogie Shire has its own ‘Bogie Bulk Buy’ scheme, which offers solar power to residents at a discounted price.
The rural shire two hours north of Melbourne has already proved its worth. More than 90 kW of solar power has already been purchased by members – that’s nearly 4000 tonnes of CO2 saved.
Hepburn Shire’s TAKE2 also plans to make the central Victorian shire carbon neutral using solar power. As a result council teamed with community group More Australian Solar Homes (MASH) to offer residents access to cheap solar panels and battery storage.
As a result, some 22 per cent of local homes are likely to have solar panels installed by the end of 2018.
