A community battery and solar farm, initiated by Renewable Newstead and built and operated by Flow Power, has been officially opened by Victoria’s Minister for Climate Action, Energy and Resources, the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio.
The landmark Newstead Community Energy Project, unique for its community/company co-development, will generate enough energy to power the local community and beyond.
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Flow Power joined project leaders, Newstead residents and representatives of the Djaara Traditional Owners group at the launch of the 3MW generating facility and 5MWh battery energy storage system.
The collaborative project is a powerful blueprint for how communities can be powered by renewables in their own backyard. First conceived in 2008, the Newstead Community Energy Project was led by Renewable Newstead, a committee of local residents determined to make good on their community’s dream to generate renewable energy locally and cut their carbon footprint.
The battery and solar farm will feed renewable electricity directly to the grid, generating enough clean energy for up to 1,000 homes, about double Newstead’s current requirements.
To maintain the farm’s connection with the community, Flow Power will then make available 100% GreenPower accredited electricity directly to Newstead homes and businesses that sign up to its Flow Home residential energy plan.
Flow Power CEO Matthew van der Linden said, ”Newstead is a community of passionate, forward-thinking, engaged individuals who are demonstrating the change that is necessary for a successful energy transition. This requires not just the support, but the active participation of energy literate communities and households.
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“Critically, when energy is cheapest is when the grid is most powered by renewables and by linking the two through their retail plan, Newstead residents will be playing their part in actively driving Australia’s energy transition.
“The Newstead Energy Project is the first of its kind for Victoria and a powerful template for how community, government and industry can work together to propel the energy transition forward. We are proud to be empowering the Newstead community to reach their 100% renewables goals and provide the infrastructure and energy education needed to make that vision a reality.”
