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Renewable Energy Precincts Newsletter September

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 Issue # 3 Septemb er 2011 Newsletter  Contents  New England Wind - Strong Community Support Clean Energy Jobs Opportunities and Challenges Councils talk Energy Efficiency and Local Generation Renewable Energy Trailer in the regions Small Wind and Solar Sept/October workshops Data now available Small Wind Consumer Guide RE News Senate Inquiry; Rural Wind Farms PV Solar Farm for Moree Project Updates South Coast Snowy-Monaro NSW/ACT Border Region Central Tablelands Upper Hunter New England North West Published by: Office of Environment and Heritage NSW OEH 2011/0724 For more information www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ climatechange/renewableprecincts Welcome to the second issue of the Renewab le Energy Precincts Newsletter for 2011. A community engagement initiative in areas of NSW where significant wind energy development is expected in the next 10 years, the program is designed to give local communities a voice and stake in renewable energy development in their region. Visit http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/climate change/renewableprecincts.htm  New England Wind Renewable Energy Cooperative The Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW Fair Trading and three community organisations funded a study into the feasibility of a community owned wind farm in the New England Region. The final report has just been received and the study’s author, Adam Blakester, from Starfish Enterprises, gave an overview. “Design principles for a successful community wind farm have been developed ~ addressing governance issues, turbine siting, operational management and scale ~ to reflect the views of over 1,300 people and organ isations directly involved in the Study. An eight turbine wind farm is recommended, requiring $30m in capital, producing sufficient electricity for 25,000 people and 9,000 dwellings ~ close to half the area’s residential load. The recommended investment model for the community wind farm would be $10 million each from the local community, banks and investors through an unlisted public company. The study found strong community interest in establishing a community wind farm to advance energy self-sufficiency for the region, deliver clean energy and a financial return for the community.” Clean Energy Jobs The Climate Institute – Precincts analysed Earlier this year stakeholder workshops informed a series of regional reports. The Climate Institute snapshots overview each region’s clean energy resources, estimate clean energy job opportunities and summarise regional strengths and challenges. Roadmaps provide a detailed assessment to assist stakeholders develop strategies that maximise jobs opportunities. Information on skills development, education, demographics and supply chain analysis is provided. Download reports at http://cleanenergyjobsmap.climateinstitute.org.au/#/nsw Photo: Armidale Community Planning Forum 
Transcript

8/4/2019 Renewable Energy Precincts Newsletter September

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/renewable-energy-precincts-newsletter-september 1/4

 

Issue # 3 September 2011

News le t t e r  

Contents  

New England Wind - StrongCommunity Support

Clean Energy JobsOpportunities and Challenges

Councils talk Energy Efficiencyand Local Generation

Renewable Energy Trailerin the regions

Small Wind and Solar Sept/October workshops Data now availableSmall Wind Consumer Guide

RE NewsSenate Inquiry; Rural Wind

FarmsPV Solar Farm for Moree

Project Updates

South Coast

Snowy-Monaro

NSW/ACT Border Region

Central Tablelands

Upper Hunter

New England North West 

Published by:Office of Environment andHeritage NSWOEH 2011/0724

For more information

www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ climatechange/renewableprecincts 

Welcome to the second issue of the Renewable Energy Precincts Newsletter for2011. A community engagement initiative in areas of NSW where significant windenergy development is expected in the next 10 years, the program is designed to givelocal communities a voice and stake in renewable energy development in their region.Visit http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/climatechange/renewableprecincts.htm  

New England WindRenewable Energy CooperativeThe Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW Fair Trading and three community

organisations funded a study into  the feasibility of a community owned wind farmin the New England Region. The final report has just been received and the study’sauthor, Adam Blakester, from Starfish Enterprises, gave an overview.

“Design principles for a successful community wind farm have been developed ~ addressing governance issues,turbine siting,operational 

management and scale ~ to reflect the views of over 1,300 people and organisations directly involved in the Study.

An eight turbine wind farm is recommended, requiring $30m in capital, producing sufficient electricity for 25,000 people and 9,000 dwellings ~ close to half the area’s residential load. The recommended investment model for the community wind farm would be $10 million each from the local community, banks and investors through an unlisted public company.

The study found strong community interest in establishing a community wind farm to advance energy self-sufficiency for the region, deliver clean energy and a financial return for the community.” 

Clean Energy JobsThe Climate Institute – Precincts analysedEarlier this year stakeholder workshops informed a series of regional reports. TheClimate Institute snapshots overview each region’s clean energy resources,estimate clean energy job opportunities and summarise regional strengths andchallenges. Roadmaps provide a detailed assessment to assist stakeholdersdevelop strategies that maximise jobs opportunities. Information on skillsdevelopment, education, demographics and supply chain analysis is provided.Download reports at http://cleanenergyjobsmap.climateinstitute.org.au/#/nsw

Photo: Armidale Community Planning Forum 

8/4/2019 Renewable Energy Precincts Newsletter September

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/renewable-energy-precincts-newsletter-september 2/4

 

Local Council Capacity BuildingWorkshop for Council Planners and Environmental StaffRenewable Energy Workshops for Council Planners and Environmental staff were held during Juneand July, with a strong focus given to discussion and feedback on how the NSW Government can

better support councils in the planning process for RE projects. A joint initiative of the Office ofEnvironment and Heritage, and Department of Planning and Infrastructure, the workshopsreinforced the emerging role of wind farms in energy generation as well as their benefits andimpacts within local economies. Changes to state government planning processes for majorprojects and new state-wide small wind and solar planning provisions were also covered.Presentation of work by the Institute of Sustainable Futures, UTS with local councils, demonstratedhow council sustainable energy plans could be developed. Local governments are well placed tostart considering mid-scale solar and wind projects to offset the costs of rising energy prices. 

Contact your local coordinator if your Council is interested in progressing ideas /projects.  

Renewables on the road

Education and information trailerThrough the use of the Renewable Energy Trailer, Regional Coordinators have actively engagedregional communities, helping people understand the role that renewable energy can play at theirhouse or in their community. Regional shows, festivals and field days across the precincts inTenterfield, Crookwell, Jindabyne, Cooma, Tathra, Namoi, Tocal, Coonabarabran, Collector andQueanbeyan, Mudgee and Cowra have been visited. Regional Coordinators have talked tohundreds of people about renewable energy issues and opportunities and the Precincts Programmore broadly. The Trailer and Precinct Coordinators will be on the road over the next 12 monthscontinuing this engagement.

Small to Medium Wind and SolarSmall and Community Scale Wind Workshops Sept-OctFull day, free workshops will be held across the precincts from late September 2011. Leadingexperts in the field, Katie Ross (Institute of Sustainable Futures, UTS) and Craig Memery(Alternative Technology Association), will be presenting. Together they will cover the basics of windenergy, design principles, site assessments, turbine siting, economics of wind and developing andbuilding community scale wind energy projects. Not to be missed! Contact your regionalcoordinator for your date and venue. 

Councils, Landholders and Community GroupsOpportunities with NSW Community Wind and Solar MapTo facilitate local renewable energy projects by landholders, councils and community groups, theOffice of Environment & Heritage has commissioned the NSW Community Wind and Solar Map. It

is an interactive, on-line tool with high-resolution wind and solar mapping data which can be used toprepare user-friendly print-outs with estimates of wind and solar resources for individual sites thatare within the NSW Renewable Energy Precincts. This data is only available until early 2012.Contact your Renewable Energy Coordinator for more detailed information.

NSW Small Wind Turbine Consumer GuideThe NSW Office of Environment and Heritage commissioned Enhar to prepare the NSW  Small Wind Turbine Consumer Guide . The Guide provides industry and consumers with all theinformation necessary when considering purchasing a small wind turbine including: assessing yoursite, choosing a turbine, planning approvals and installation. If you are considering a larger systemto supply power to your school, community organisation or small business the guide also providesinformation which remains relevant for medium sized wind turbines. Download the guide at

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/climatechange/0449SWCG.pdf 

8/4/2019 Renewable Energy Precincts Newsletter September

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 Renewable Energy NewsSenate Inquiry – Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind farms

Following the review of over a thousand submissions and the conduct of a number of publichearings, the Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee Report on Rural Wind Farms wasreleased in June. The report comments on noise and health effects; the interface between

commonwealth, state, and local planning laws as they pertain to wind farms; and property values,employment opportunities and farm income.For the full report visit:http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/clac_ctte/impact_rural_wind_farms/report/report.pdf

Solar Flagships – Winning bid for Moree

Moree Solar Farm in New South Wales and the Chinchilla solar thermal farm in Queensland are thewinners of Round 1 of the Federal Government’s Solar Flagships Program. The Moree Solar Farm,a utility-scale solar photovoltaic farm proposed by a consortium comprising Fotowatio RenewableVentures, BP Solar and Pacific Hydro, was selected as the winner for the photovoltaic projectfunding. The NSW Government has committed $120m to support this project. The 150 megawatt(MW) project is planned to begin construction in mid-2012 subject to final approvals. When

completed, the farm will comprise approximately 650,000 photovoltaic (PV) panels and produceenough power for approximately 45,000 households (or roughly a town the size of Darwin), leadingto an annual displacement of around 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide through generation ofrenewable electricity.http://www.moreesolarfarm.com.au/  

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Precinct updates – project developmentSouth Coast 

In February Epuron announced plans for a wind farm at Eden. Initial plans are for up to 7 turbinesat the Eden Chip Mill site on the south side of the harbour. The project is projected to generateenough power for over 4,000 average sized households. The project will be assessed by BegaValley Shire Council with a final decision made by the Joint Regional Planning Panel. Thedevelopment application will cover the same issues that larger projects are required to address toensure a robust assessment can be made. It is anticipated that the development application will belodged in the near future and community feedback will be part of the assessment process.

South Coast Renewable Energy Coordinator: Daniel MurphyContact on 0427241879 or [email protected]

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Snowy-Monaro 

Generation of bioenergy using waste material from Bombala forestry operations is being explored.Bombala Shire Council, Forests NSW and Regional Development Australia Southern Inland aresupporting the project and RDASI has adopted the project as a major activity under its RenewableEnergy Generation Strategic Priority. Such a project would help create jobs and significantly boostthe local economy. Long term it could potentially make the Bombala community a net energyexporter. The program is supporting Clean Energy for Eternity Snowy Mountains to look at thepossibility of a community owned renewable energy project in the area. Partnership with the localCMA, so that any project addresses both climate change mitigation and adaptation, is beingdiscussed.

Snowy-Monaro Renewable Energy Coordinator: Chris Mackenzie DaveyContact on 0457593266 or [email protected]

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8/4/2019 Renewable Energy Precincts Newsletter September

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 Central Tablelands The Precinct has exceptional potential for large scale wind with 1340MW under assessment,covering 5 individual wind farms – a possible investment of more than $3B and around 500 jobs.This should ensure the area will exceed 20% renewable energy generation by 2020. Healthysupport for community ownership of projects is developing along with a realisation of the challengesand risks involved. Community desire for factual balanced information is a characteristic of the

precinct and the program works with all stakeholders to achieve this.Central Tablelands Renewable Energy Coordinator: Grant ChristophersonContact on 0457594193 or [email protected]  

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NSW/ACT Border Region Gunning wind farm owned by Acciona was launched on 20 July. With 31 turbines it will generatepower for 30,000 households and create 9 full time jobs locally. Woodlawn owned by InfigenEnergy, the same people who own Capital wind farm should start generating soon. It has 23turbines (48MW), enough power for 20,000 households, and it will create 4 - 6 full time, ongoing jobs. The program continues to disseminate factual information on the impacts and benefits of windfarms, including issues such as health, noise and property values, and is currently working toensure community members are informed about how best to engage with the planning process to

make sure all views receive appropriate attention.NSW/ACT Border Region Renewable Energy Coordinator: Andy HughesContact on 0457593226 or [email protected]  

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Upper Hunter In March, Epuron Pty Ltd submitted the Liverpool Range Wind Farm Project Application for a 1000+MW / 550 wind turbine wind farm. A Planning Focus Group Meeting, with local councils andgovernment agencies was held and subsequently Director General’s Requirements were issued. Asignificant energy generation project if built to capacity, the wind farm could produce 4,250,000 MWhours or enough for around 525,000 homes in NSW. Local landholder groups are looking at thepotential to participate in innovative alternative business models for wind farm developments and

the distribution of development opportunities is a focus of community discussion. In Scone, Pamadacontinues its work on grid connection planning and wind turbine layout for the Kyoto Energy Park.

Upper Hunter Renewable Energy Coordinator: Pauline DunneContact on 0457593991 or [email protected]  

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New England North West In the New England North West Precinct $10-13m has been invested in micro-generation with solarPV and wind in the last three years, demonstrating real willingness to shift to sustainable energy.The New England community solar initiative, Farming the Sun, has just received a Green GlobeAward. The Precinct also has two very active large scale wind projects between Inverell and GlenInnes, the 150MW solar farm at Moree, as well as opportunities for medium scale commercial andco-operative ventures. We are developing a package of local government renewable energyinitiatives and scoping energy from waste in both New England and the North West.

New England North West Renewable Energy Coordinator: Paul CruickshankContact on 0457593827 or [email protected]  

MAJOR PROJECTS: Find information including Project Applications, Director GeneralRequirements, Submissions, Environmental Impact Assessments & Modifications to Applications athttp://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/page/project-sectors/transport--communications--energy---water/generation-of-electricity-or-heat-or-co-generation/ 

For more information on current initiatives, and to lodge an interest in hosting or participating inmedium to large scale renewable opportunities, please contact your local regional coordinator.

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