Initially launched for NSW residents, the Haystacks Solar Garden is expanding into Victoria, ACT, South Australia, Tasmania and South East Queensland.
Over 3 million homeowners currently enjoy the benefits of making their own electricity for free from rooftop solar. Now, access to Australia’s first solar garden has expanded to allow more households locked out of solar to benefit from lower electricity bills and take action on climate change.
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“From Brisbane, out to the Barossa and down to Burnie, anyone who pays for electricity can now harvest solar power as a solar gardener,” Community Power Agency director and chair of the Haystacks Solar Co-operative Kristy Walters said.
“After purchasing their plot, solar gardeners stand to receive estimated savings of $505 on their electricity bill each year for a decade, making a difference to household budgets at a time when cost of living expenses keep rising.
“If you can install rooftop solar, that will always be the best option financially. If you can’t, either because you rent, live in an apartment or some other reason, buying a solar garden plot is the next best thing. It’s better in many ways because it’s hassle-free—no maintenance or insurance costs to worry about, with the added bonus that a solar plot moves with you.”
Anyone eligible for an account with electricity retail partner EnergyLocals can now purchase a ‘plot’ in the solar garden and receive on-bill solar credits on every electricity bill. Once the solar farm is built, solar garden credits will continue to arrive on their bill for 10 years.
Sydney resident Leah Bloomfield, who has bought a Haystacks plot, said, “I live in a very tall terrace house. The quotes on installing panels on my inaccessible roof are way too expensive. The Haystacks Solar Garden is the perfect solution for me. Both my children rent and will be buying solar garden plots too.”
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The project will build a 1.5MW solar array across about 5 hectares at a farming property in Grong Grong, one hour west of Wagga Wagga and reduce emissions by 3,100 tonnes each year.
The Haystacks Solar Garden project is funded by the NSW Government under the Regional Community Energy Fund in association with Community Power Agency, Pingala, and Komo Energy, with support from other organisations.
