While we’ve been quiet for some time on our website, we’ve been busy elsewhere getting all of the bits together to get our solar field online.
Here’s a quick update on developments:
We have chosen our site and applied for a planning permit to build a small-scale solar farm there. After chatting with site neighbours, we sought and gained a planning permit for a scaled-down (from 10MW) 5MW farm.
We have contracted studies necessary for approval to send our power through Powercor’s power lines. These include:
- a steady state study – to assess the existing state of the power distribution and how the lines work in the area specific to Newstead
- a dynamic modelling study – to assess how the power lines would handle any contingencies once our farm is connected.
We operated a Request for Quote process to secure partners to build, own and operate the farm and to sell the electricity it generates.
We settled on a company called Flow Power to take charge of finance, construction and retail. Watch this space for more details.
We’re now working with Flow Power to come up with a good, low-cost electricity pricing structure for Newstead residents and customers of our proposed solar farm. It’s likely this will be finalised in the first quarter of next year.
It might seem odd that we’re working out pricing before building the farm. However Flow Power, who would build the farm and retail the energy, needs to know costs and Renewable Newstead needs to be satisfied that pricing for Newstead is the best possible.
Many milestones remain but with excellent project partners, a site, and continued support by the Victorian Government, we are well on our way to project development!
