Communities take renewable power into their own hands

22 June 2015

The increase in community energy projects across Australia is visible, with the energy transition that is occurring across the world having an effect here too.

Community energy projects are those in which a community comes together to develop, deliver and benefit from sustainable energy. They can involve energy supply projects such as renewable energy installations and storage, and energy reduction projects such as energy efficiency and demand management.

Community energy projects allow individuals to be involved in clean energy beyond the bounds of their own homes or businesses and in so doing bring a range of benefits and opportunities for their household and for the wider community. Community energy has and continues to underpin the energy transition in countries like Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom and even the United States.

In Australia, there are now 19 operating community energy projects, which have as of the end of 2014 generated enough to power more than 9,000 homes. The community energy sector has already contributed more than A$23 million in funding for sustainable energy infrastructure.

Some prominent examples of community energy in Australia include:

• the international award-winning Hepburn Wind in Victoria – Australia’s first community wind farm;
• Denmark Community Wind in Western Australia – Australia’s second community wind farm;
• Repower Shoalhaven – a community-owned 100-kilowatt solar array on the Shoalhaven Heads bowling club on the New South Wales south coast;
• Darebin Solar Savers in Melbourne – a project that saw the Moreland Energy Foundation put solar on the roofs of 300 pensioners, who use the savings to pay back the cost of the system through their council rates;
• several donation-funded community solar projects on community buildings across Victoria, NSW and South Australia.

We are starting to see the rise of community entrepreneurs innovating and developing new models, and in doing so reshaping the future of energy in their communities. With various support mechanisms, there is no reason that Australia can’t follow in the footsteps of other countries, to allow all communities across Australia to benefit socially and financially from the energy transition.