East Lismore site being considered for solar energy farm

AFTER a site inspection at the East Lismore Treatment Plant on Wednesday, Lismore is one step closer to its own solar farm.

STARTING WORK: Juno Energy technical and logistics manager Jacob Wood (left) and manager Patrick Halliday (right) begin the feasibility study for the community solar farm at the East Lismore Treatment Plant.. Picture: Terra Sword of Lismore City Council

AFTER a site inspection at the East Lismore Treatment Plant on Wednesday, Lismore is one step closer to its own solar farm.

The project has come about after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Lismore City Council and the Farming the Sun project, and Juno Energy is now investigating ways to create a community solar farm on the Wyrallah Rd treatment plant site.

• BACKGROUND: Lismore could become home to nation's first community-owned solar farm.

Council's Environmental Strategies Coordinator, Nick Stephens, said that while a full feasibility study matching the solar system to the energy use of the site was still to be done, it was highly likely the site would meet the criteria.

"The inspection was to enable the company Juno Energy - who will be installing the solar panels - to meet with staff that work at the sewage treatment plant and essentially investigate the best location for the solar farm to go in," Mr Stephens said.

The investigation was looking, essentially, at surface area where the array of panels could be installed, he explained, and at this point the team were looking at using a combination of existing rooftops, combined with a cover over one of the filter tanks.

"This site was chosen because it has a steady usage of energy," Mr Stephens said.

Director of Juno Energy Patrick Halliday explained they were planning a system that would touch the 99kW range, with about 300 solar modules.

Farming the Sun project director Adam Blakester said he was feeling very positive about the venture and the site's ability to meet the criteria, and was glad that Lismore City Council had jumped on board.

Over the hill, the Nimbin Neighbourhood and Information Centre has announced the Nimbin Community Solar Farm has exceeded its generation target of 61,000kWh for the second year running.

The 45kW Solar Farm, located across six community-owned buildings in Nimbin, is the first of its type in Australia, they said, and has served as an inspiration for many communities looking for renewable energy solutions.