The New South Wales town of Manilla is to host a community-owned solar farm project through a partnership with Providence Asset Group.
Manilla is a small town (population ~2,550) located approximately 45 kilometres northwest of the regional city of Tamworth. Solar panels are popular in Manilla, with its postcode home to more than 386 small-scale systems.
Spurred on by solar energy’s capabilities in slashing electricity costs, Manilla Community Renewable Energy Inc. (MCRE) was formed in 2013 with the goal of establishing a community-owned renewable energy facility. MCRE teamed up with renewables-focused investment and asset management firm Providence Asset Group this year to form Manilla Solar.
Through the partnership, construction of a 4.9MW solar farm at a 20-hectare site around 3 kilometres from the town is expected to start in June next year and be completed by April 2021. There’s also mention of a battery storage facility, but no further details on the energy storage aspect were provided in the announcement.
Win-Win For Community And Investors
Local business and members of the community will have the opportunity to invest in the project, which will sell electricity back to residents at a discounted rate and with some of the profits from the venture to be plowed back into the Manilla community. The project will also create jobs within the local area.
While a full product disclosure won’t be available until next year, MCRE says one share in the Manilla Solar Project will cost $1,000.
“It’s been quite a journey to get to this point, thanks to the efforts of a lot of committed people,” said MCRE President Emma Stilts. “So, to be able to formally announce the launch of this solar farm project, in conjunction with Providence Asset Group – a company that shares our vision for cleaner and greener energy generation – is very satisfying and we’re eagerly anticipating the next steps.”
Using Manilla as a pilot, Providence Asset Group intends rolling out up to 30 similar community-owned solar power projects across regional New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.
“This community model represents a ‘win-win’ for both the host community in the form of cheaper power and money back into the area, and the investors who are guaranteed an attractive investment return,” said the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Henry Sun.
Among Providence’s other investments is Risen Energy’s Yarranlea Solar Farm near Pittsworth, about 50km west of Toowoomba; which was completed last month and is currently in the commissioning and compliance phase. It’s expected Yarranlea will be fully operational early next year.
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Hmmm… The Parliamentary inquiry into the prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia has concluded, and has just released its report.
Anyone interested can download the report from the following link:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Environment_and_Energy/Nuclearenergy/Report
The formal Government ‘response’ to the Committee’s report is yet to be announced. However, given the report’s enthusiastic endorsement of low cost nuclear electricity generation and claims of significant income from hydrogen exports by the majority of the Committee; it seems likely the Federal Government will accept the Committee’s recommendations, taking little notice of the views of dissenting Committee members such as Zali Steggall, an independent MP for Warringah since the 2019 Federal Election.
As a matter of interest, Ms Steggall displaced Tony Abbott from a seat considered ‘safe’ by the Liberals . since 1983. Voters had always given the Liberal’s a first preference vote that exceeded 50% for 36 years.
In her maiden speech to Parliament, reported at: ,
https://junkee.com/zali-steggall-maiden-speech/215215
Ms Steggall didn’t pull any punches, calling for Parliament to finally behave like adults, take action on the climate crisis, and pointing out that literal children are handling the crisis better than the government.
.