Southern councils could soon have their own solar farm at McLaren Vale dump

THE Southern Region Waste Resource Authority is considering using land at its McLaren Vale dump to set up an array of solar panels to generate power for sale.

SOUTHERN councils could soon have their own solar farm to raise extra funds for community services through the sale of energy fed back into the power grid.

The Southern Region Waste Resource Authority — a subsidiary of Marion, Holdfast Bay and Onkaparinga councils — is considering using land at McLaren Vale to set up an array of solar panels to generate power for sale.

The authority’s board will formally consider a proposal for the project next month.

Meantime, Marion councillor Bruce Hull says a wind farm, too, should be explored for land at the councils’ jointly-owned McLaren Vale waste processing plant, which is known locally as Pedler Creek.

“There’s a lot of area that can’t be built on for any structure because it’s infill but it’s ideal to put solar panels on it, and it could be a good place for a wind farm,” Cr Hull said.

“We’ve had an appetite to do something like this but we’ve struggled to find anywhere to put it.”

The Southern Region Waste Resource Authority site in McLaren Vale.

The plant is already generating power through the use of methane from the dump, and Cr Hull hoped the councils could take advantage of some of its existing infrastructure for a wind or solar project.

He pointed to Melbourne City Council’s announcement late last year that it had joined with other districts, universities and businesses to establish a wind farm near Ararat.

Cr Hull will next month push for his council to collaborate with Holdfast Bay and Onkaparinga to follow its lead and investigate wind or solar power.

Aerial image of AGL Energy's Broken Hill solar farm.

Southern Region Waste Resource Authority chairman Mark Booth said the organisation was already considering installing a solar farm at an area of capped landfill.

Mr Booth said the project would supply power to the three councils, but could not release further details before it was discussed at a board meeting next month.

“We currently have solar on site for our own use and we’re exploring opportunities to produce power to sell into the grid,” Mr Booth said.

He said the authority had produced power from landfill gases for more than 20 years, with the energy generated equivalent to that needed for around 2000 homes each year.

“From 2019 onwards we expect that this power output will rise to the equivalent of more than 6000 homes, when new and more efficient technology is commissioned.”

Mr Booth said the authority had not considered setting up a wind farm.

“Visually, I’m not sure wind would work,” Mr Booth said.

“(But) we could certainly fit in a solar farm with battery back-up. The land is in a valley so it would be less obtrusive.”

The board is expected to consider the solar proposal on May 7.