Benjamin Millar
Maribyrnong Council has eyed off neighbourhood-scale energy systems as a potential future pathway towards energy and financial self-sufficiency.
Outgoing mayor Michael Clarke said the power of the sun offers a way to potentially reduce over reliance on rates revenue while also reducing negative environmental impacts to help address the climate emergency.
“There are a number of innovative solar and sustainable energy projects options that could bring both environmental and revenue benefits to Council,” he said.
“This would need to be weighed against the ability to offset power bills and provide power security and potentially also raise revenue.”
Cr Clarke pointed to community battery projects such as one in Yackandandah as potential models, as well as the City of Melbourne piloting neighbourhood scale battery energy storage systems designed to generate up to five megawatts of electricity by 2024.
“Such schemes bring many potential benefits – not just in reduced power bills but also in assisting communities and businesses transition to renewable energy use, raise revenue, employment and research and development,” he said.
The Council has so far installed more than 2000 solar panels on 32 Council buildings, totalling 614w capacity – the equivalent to powering 123 homes – saving 1000T CO2e per annum and producing 2.5 MWh of electricity per day.
It has also entered into a power purchasing agreement with 46 other councils, to draw 100 per cent renewable energy from two Victorian windfarms from January 1.
The council has sought a report by next April outlining available solar and sustainable energy project options before making any decision on whether to progress to a feasibility study.
