It’s not the first in Australia, daylsford in Victoria comes to mind, but it’s an energy solution that IMO ought to be replicated in as many place as are removed from main transmission lines. There is also the notion of independence from the vagaries of corporate energy suppliers pricing.

It’s such a good thing which can only help to reduce fossil fuel consumption and its attendent pollution.

“11.23 AEDT [today] — NSW town flips switch on Australia’s first community-owned solar farm and battery
Australia’s first community co-op solar farm and battery has officially opened in Goulburn, New South Wales.

The project, a 1.4-megawatt solar farm with a 4MWh battery, is owned by 288 investors, 80% of whom are from the region’s community. Andrew Bray, the chair of the Goulburn Community Energy Co-operative, said it was the culmination of 12 years of hard work by the community.

The powerful thing is these members now have a stake in a renewable energy power plant rather than leaving the clean energy market to large national and international interests. It is a great step in true benefit sharing.
The co-op ownership structure means that each investor has one vote, regardless of the size of their shareholding. As well as financial returns for investors, Bray said a portion of annual profits would be directed to a community fund to address energy poverty in the area.

Edison Zhou, the group director of Australia and New Zealand for Trinasolar Asia Pacific, which supplied the solar modules and energy storage, said: ‘Community energy projects like this one show what is possible when local determination meets the right technology and the right partners. We are proud that Trinasolar’s solar modules, tracker and storage solutions could play a part in making it a reality, demonstrating that advanced clean‑energy technology is no longer just for large-scale developers, it is accessible to communities too.’
The solar farm is completing final commissioning and is expected to be fully connected to the grid within weeks” (Source: The Gardian Live)
#Renewables #CommunityOwned #TaxTheRich