In the heart of New South Wales, the Goulburn Community Solar Farm is a success story in Regional Renewal Energy sector. Initiated in 2014 by local residents under the Goulburn Community Energy Co-operative.
Project Overview
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Capacity: 1.8 MW solar photovoltaic system
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Battery Storage: 2.2 MWh capacity
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Location: 2.5-hectare site on Goulburn’s northern gateway, approximately 3 km from the Goulburn city center
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Components: Approximately 4,550 solar panels
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Investment: Around A$5M – 6M
What domestic or international investors could learn and consider Community Solar Investments in Australia?
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Empowering Local Communities: Projects like Goulburn’s are 100% community-owned, ensuring that profits are reinvested locally and that decision-making remains democratic, with each member having an equal say regardless of their investment size.
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Sustainable Returns: While the financial returns are modest, they are steady and contribute to the broader goal of expanding renewable energy infrastructure across the regional Australia.
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Environmental Impact: By converting a former gravel pit into a solar farm, the project not only produces clean energy but also repurposes otherwise unusable land, reducing the community’s carbon footprint.
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Strengthening Community Bonds: The collaborative nature of such projects fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose among residents, as evidenced by the overwhelming support and volunteer efforts in Goulburn.
As Australia continues its transition towards renewable energy, community-led initiatives like the Goulburn Community Solar Farm highlight the potential for sustainable development that benefits both the environment and local populations.
📩 Let’s connect if you’re interested in exploring strategic partnerships, market entry, project investment or M&A in Australia’s renewable energy space. Together, we can scale the next generation of clean energy infrastructure in Australia. A fun and rewarding business case!
Joseph Tse, Melbourne
#RenewableEnergy #CommunitySolar #SustainableInvestment #GoulburnSolarFarm #CleanEnergyAustralia
