Green energy from the grassroots in South Australia
The greening of SA’s councils Adelaide Now JILL PENGELLEY December 23, 2009 THINGS are greening up at the grassroots level. While climate change is debated on the world stage, local councils in South Australia are directing change…………
Onkaparinga City Council, which spans Adelaide’s southern fringe, proposes something for everyone, from household solar panels to miniature “sun farms” and a larger commercial power plant. There are already about 1200 photovoltaic (solar panel) systems installed across the south – mostly on houses.
Last week, the council agreed to investigate a scheme whereby preferred suppliers would be appointed to sell solar systems to ratepayers at a bulk-purchase rate.
The smaller sun farms would involve the installation of up to 30kW solar panel systems on public buildings or vacant land. Community members could buy a stake and receive dividends from profits.
The 5mW commercial scheme planned for Lonsdale would power about 2000 homes…………
“It could be a co-operative. It could be a company is formed and people become shareholders.”
The green energy plans depend on the willingness of residents and business to invest, and the council now will begin to gauge interest.
Solar Energy Society president Monica Oliphant says the Federal Government should provide incentives for larger renewable energy projects to encourage investment.
At the individual level, householders are paid a “feed-in tariff” for any unused power they generate, which goes back into the grid.
However, larger renewable power schemes do not attract the tariff……..
…..Professor Oliphant says most local council projects are “small stuff” but Onkaparinga’s proposed 5mW system is impressive and would involve more than one source of power. “That’s not small-scale stuff – that’s good,” she says.
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