Ever Energy: Solar farm developments across the Hunter aim to drive down power prices
A Queensland energy company is bringing renewable energy to a number of locations across the Hunter with aims to drive down the wholesale price of power, with the savings passed on to us.
Newcastle
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The Hunter has been flagged as a desirable region to produce more solar power, with a Queensland energy company targeting unused land, including property affected by PFAS.
Ever Energy is bringing renewable energy, via solar farms, to a number of locations across the region with aims to drive down the wholesale price of power, with the savings passed on to us, the consumers.
“We’ve had really good success in the Newcastle Hunter region,” Mike Cook from Ever Energy said.
“A lot of things come into play, how accessible the network is, how easy the councils are to work with, what we’re going to get paid for power, right now the power value is working well for us.
“We found the councils in the area are very proactive.
“Already in the last two years the wholesale market has already dropped, two years ago we were selling power for 8 or 8 cents and now we’re selling power for 4.5 - 3.5 cents.”
So far the company has lodged applications for two solar farm developments which are before Hunter councils.
In Williamtown, a 4.9 megawatt farm costing $3.8 million, will employ around 30 people for 16 weeks.
While in Mountview, near Cessnock, a 4.95 megawatt farm, is estimated to cost around $4 million, supplying power for approximately 1000 homes.
There are also three applications being prepared, set to be lodged, for two solar farms in Singleton including a massive 30 megawatt development, and also one in Seaham.
And the energy company is continually on the lookout for more land to grow the solar power network across the Hunter, particularly in areas like Williamtown with contaminated land being unused.
“We’ve been trying to find land that is not good for anyone else because solar panels are just sitting there doing their thing and PFAS doesn’t affect them,” Mr Cook said.
“You’ve got land that can’t be used and it requires no maintenance, so it carries zero risk.
“We also look for farmers with unused land, we look for a minimum of 25 acres and if it’s close to powerlines, then we do some leg work on it.
“If it ticks all the boxes, council is happy, the network is happy, then we’re happy to do a 25 year lease with a farmer.”
“We lease the land and then every month they get a cheque from us, like another income.”
Mr Cook said they look to source local labour when the solar farms are in the construction phase and to maintain them.
And apart from creating cheap energy, he boasts solar farms are easy to operate with minimal disruption.
“Solar farms make no noise, and once built do not require anyone to be onsite full time, meaning minimal disturbance to surrounding neighbourhoods,” he said.
“Solar panels do not burn, therefore creating an effective fire break.
“There is also the added benefit of renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions and bringing down the price of power by harnessing the infinite power of nature.
“Cost of power is so cheap to produce through solar. “