Newcastle may be the world’s busiest coal port, but there’s a lot happening on the local renewable energy scene too.
The City of Newcastle was a founding member of the Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership and last year, Council resolved to pursue sourcing 100 per cent renewables for its operational electricity requirements. As part of this effort, a five-megawatt solar farm was completed late last year, which will save Council (and ratepayers) millions of dollars over its long operational life.
Summerhill Solar Farm consists of 14,500 solar panels that were installed on an eight-hectare capped landfill cell at Summerhill Waste Management Centre. In addition to Summerhill, solar panels have also been installed on various Council assets.
“Newcastle has always been an industrial town. First it was coal, then it was steel and now, it’s renewables,” said Deputy Lord Mayor, Declan Clausen. “This community is hungry for clean economic and growth opportunities that will ensure a healthy and resilient future, and quite frankly, that’s clean energy technology like solar and wind.”
To help get the renewable-energised Newcastle message out, the Climate Council has released a video showcasing some of the strides the City, businesses and residents are making in reinventing the city as a renewable energy powerhouse.
The video also highlights the efforts of Carrington Bowling Club, who had members and the community sponsor solar panels – and it looks like they had a lot of fun doing it. The club was able to install 150 panels and the 50kW system is now saving the club $1,000 – $1,800 a month.
In the wider community, solar power is also pretty popular; with more than 10,036 PV systems installed in the City of Newcastle local government area as at 30 September last year (source: APVI) – so no doubt that figure has grown significantly since. At the end of September 2019, there were approximately 9,616 systems under 10kW, 420 in the 10-100kW range and 4 above 100kW – not including the Summerhill Solar Farm project. The popularity of PV is sustaining quite a few solar installers in Newcastle, providing valuable jobs.
A Clean Energy Future Beyond Coal
Cities Power Partnership director David Craven says the City of Newcastle has set a great example and that the town is ready for a clean economy beyond coal.
“What they need now is the State and Federal Government to get on board and set up a clear policy direction to protect workers and communities, and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels,” stated Mr. Craven.
The Newcastle experience also shows what can be achieved in a community when a council gets behind renewable energy – and there have been plenty across Australia that have.
About Michael Bloch
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Hi Solar quotes, i did try and send an email to inquire about some advice on smart meters but never received any responses, here below is a copy of that letter;
Hi James, i recently had a 6.6 k/watt system installed by battery solar solutions, golden grove 5125, they advised SA powernetworks, and Lumo energy to get the approvals.
System was installed 21st Jan this yr, we were advised meter change over would be within 30 days, its now almost 90 days, still counting. i rang Lumo, they said they tried to contact me so i could give them permission to go ahead with meter change over, i told them, no one told me that my permission was needed, and if they didn’t get any response from me why did they not send out a paper notification like they send out their paper bill, they could not satisfactorily answer this.
I Rang power networks, and was told that as of DEC;17th 2019, power networks are not responsible for installing changeover solar meters, this was the responsibility of each separate energy provider,
when i reproached Lumo by phone, they told me yes they would provide the smart meter for free, but if due to my ill health, and seeing that i am approaching my mid 70’s, and through working with blue asbestos for many years i have a chronic lung condition, and would like to have the WiFi communications disabled from the smart meter.
I was promptly informed that there would be a $200.00 disconnection of communications, and a meter read charge of over a hundred dollars per quarter.approx $150.00, I questioned this and told them that i do not believe this is legal, and that as a elderly pensioner in ill health there should be a special circumstance that would waiver this fee.
So is it legal to have the comms disconnected, and allow the smart meter to run as a digital meter, which can still receive input credits into the grid, even though its only 15 cents feed in rate.
Also im not sure yet whether they work on the net, or gross metering systems, i would prefer the net system, as it uses all solar power to appliances first then returns excess into grid.
I would also like to clarify who is monitoring the meter first, does Power networks still monitor your power then pass it on to the energy retailer, even though they no longer install the smart meters, or does the energy provider monitor it directly themselves?
I also explained to Lumo and power Networks, that i even have a timer that turns of my telstra WiFi during the night while i sleep, i worked as an electrician for 50 years, and have a fairly good knowledge of EMF, and other types of RF radiation, and i wish to minimize it where possible.,
i hope you can give me some advice, thanks, and kindest regards Richard….
WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
Hello Richard
Sorry you didn’t get a reply to your email. I had a look for it and found it. It’s my fault you were missed and I apologize for that.
My understanding is that if that if a household refuses to have a smart meter installed or has its transmission abilities disabled then the home can be charged a high meter reading fee. It’s legal in the sense that they are permitted to make this charge a condition of being connected to the grid. Whether or not it actually is legal to charge much more than what it probably actually costs to read your meter, I can’t say. I’m not qualified to give a legal opinion. You could try contacting your energy ombudsman and hope they are helpful. You can also try your member for Parliament.
Solar works on a net metering basis. Your home consumes solar electricity first before any is sent into the grid.
My understanding is it’s the energy retailers who monitor the smart meters as they need the detailed information from each home to create electricity bills.
If it’s any reassurance, smart meters apparently emit very little EMF compared to a mobile phone. But if you are concerned you could put up some shielding. That may be a much lower cost option that being forced to pay a high meter reading fee every quarter.