Sydney’s Northern Beaches’ Super Solar Savings

Northern Beaches Council is reaping significant financial benefits from a focus on energy efficiency and renewables for its operations.

According Council, it saved more than half a million dollars on electricity in the last financial year – $321, 690 on electricity for buildings and sites, and $201, 870 on energy for street lighting. This was achieved through a 100% renewable electricity Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), more attention paid to energy efficiency and installing more solar panels on its assets.

It’s good news for the planet as well.

“By investing in solar and switching to renewable energy, we have reduced our emissions by around 80% and slashed our energy costs,” said Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan.

… and it’s also good news for the community, with savings going towards infrastructure upgrades and community projects.

As a result of its efforts, Council has met a couple of targets far earlier than originally planned – one being all suitable premises to source their electricity requirements from renewables by 2030, and to reduce corporate emissions by 60% by 2040.

“We are proud to be part of a future-minded community that champions sustainability and climate change action,” said Mayor Regan. “We have not only met our corporate emission reduction targets – we have exceeded those targets.”

Among the PV installations on Council assets is a 265kW solar system at  Manly Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic Centre, which commenced cranking clean electricity back in 2020. All told, the organisation has installed more than 900 kW of solar panel capacity.

Other renewables-related actions more directly involve the community; including a partnership with Ausgrid on a community battery trial in Beacon Hill. Installed in February 2021, it was Ausgrid’s first community battery and the first of its kind on the east coast of Australia.

In Beacon Hill’s postcode area, more than 1,600 small-scale solar systems with a collective capacity of 10,982 kW had been installed as at the end of August this year. The community battery is storing solar energy from local homes and enabling more PV system installations.

Solar Power In Northern Beaches LGA

As for solar power uptake across the entire Northern Beaches local government area; as at the end of September this year (Source: APVI):

• Estimated dwellings (freestanding and semi-detached): 68,616
• Solar PV installations: 15,821 (approx. 20.2% of dwellings)
• Est. installed capacity: 96,000 kW
• Under 10kW: 63,122 kW (installations under 10kW: 13,840)
• 10-100kW: 32,316 kW (installations: 1,978)
• Over 100kW: 562 kW (installations: 3¹)

Council has previously mentioned an ambitious goal seeing half of suitable premises in the LGA with solar panels installed by 2030. Among the many good reasons for households to do so is the rising cost of electricity; a situation that is expected to continue for some time.

For example, according to SQ’s solar calculator (using its default settings), a 6.6kW system installed in Mona Vale can achieve simple payback in just over 5 years.