Residents of the regional Victorian town of Newstead are now fully powered by renewable energy, thanks to a new solar and battery project that was officially opened yesterday.
The Newstead Community Energy Project consists of a 3 megawatt solar farm, coupled with a 5 megawatt hour battery storage system.
This allows excess solar power generated during the day to be stored and discharged at night or during periods of peak demand.
The $1.1 million project was funded by the Victorian Labor government and developed in partnership with energy retailer Flow Power. It will allow the Newstead community to achieve its goal of running on 100 per cent renewable energy.
Flow Power utilised local contractors during construction and will establish a community fund with ongoing benefits.
The Newstead project is one of 50 large-scale solar farms either operational, under construction or soon to be commissioned across Victoria.
The government is also rolling out 100 neighbourhood battery installations across the state.
These mid-sized batteries can soak up excess renewable energy and discharge it when needed, increasing reliability and putting power back in the hands of local communities.
Victoria’s State Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said the government is supporting regional Victoria to make the most out of the renewable energy transition.
“We are backing lower power bills and more reliable energy with projects like this one,” she said.
“We’re empowering the Newstead community – and other communities like it – to fully harness the benefits of locally generated and stored renewable energy.”
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