Wodonga Council has secured a grant to conduct a feasibility study into developing a large-scale solar farm.
The study will seek to identify a parcel of land where at least two mega-watts of solar panels and an education centre could be sited, as well as investigate how the energy generated could be used to benefit the regional Victorian community.
The project has received $80,000 from the Department of Environment Land Water Planning through its New Energy Jobs Fund, in addition to $20,000 from Wodonga Council.
Wodonga Council Chief Executive Officer Patience Harrington said Wodonga had a high proportion of people who are unable to access the benefits of a solar system because they rent or can’t afford it.
“We want to develop this solar installation so that everyone in the community, and particularly people who can’t generate their own solar power, can benefit from clean energy from the sun,” she said.
“Wodonga Council has made a commitment to the sustainable growth of our city and increasing the proportion of renewable energy we generate locally is part of this ongoing commitment.
“The cost of the technology continues to decrease and Wodonga is well positioned to benefit from these types of solar installations given the high average annual sunshine hours we enjoy and the distance from where the majority of our energy is currently generated.”
The grant was developed in partnership with Renewable Albury Wodonga (RAW Energy), a local community group encouraging the uptake of renewable energy across the Albury-Wodonga region.
The announcement follows the recent installation of solar panels on the roof of entertainment centre The Cube Wodonga, which is expected to deliver $6000 in energy savings per year.
The system is expected to generate about 10 percent of The Cube Wodonga’s energy requirements, with a saving of $500 a month.
The system cost $27,000 and should pay for itself within five years.
“The Cube Wodonga was considered ideal for a solar system because of its high power usage and the design of the building,” said Ms Harrington.
“Its rooftop provides for maximum sun exposure while the solar panels will not be visible from the ground and will not detract from the look of the building.”
