This past month we’ve split our time between the Wathagar and Junee Solar Farm projects which are both nearing completion.
Both projects are being driven by significant agribusiness entities with two key goals – energy security and managing long-term energy costs. We’re looking forward to sharing case studies once both are fully energised.
On the eve of a State Election in NSW where environment and sustainability in regional areas have hardly rated a mention, Meralli Executive Director David was talking at a community energy options event in our hometown of Uralla.
Run by the local ZNET (whose aim is the drive the transition of the township to 100% renewables) the event was designed to help the community understand some of the new ideas being developed across the spectrum of community energy.
It struck us that what we’re looking at from a community perspective is not just a ‘like for like’ replacement of coal/gas for renewables but a seismic shift away from a centralised model of energy generation.
And if we think about some of the technological shifts we’ve seen in the tech sector (Kodak anyone?), communities must start to think about how to adapt to the change now if they’re going to make the most of the opportunity.
At our own solar farm development known as Thunderbolt just outside Uralla, we’re imagining a space where people work, charge their EV while there, and head home at the end of the day and use that energy to power their homes. EVs not simply a car for transport, but a battery with wheels.
From a personal perspective, if I could go to work in an amazing location, charge my battery (with wheels) while I was there and then could power my house knowing the energy was generated right there during the day we’ve just had, that would be a location pretty hard to beat. Pretty hard not to make my family a part of and in the process contribute to the economic security of the area.
If we in regional Australia hesitate or worse still try to manage the change rather than adapt to it, it will be another lost opportunity to differentiate ourselves and build a sustainable economic future for our kids (and our kids’ kids).
– Ed, Business Development Lead
Read the Meralli Solar Newsletter in full here.
