Gosford City Council has decided to install 435kW of rooftop solar on seven council facilities in a move it says should save it more than $80,000 a year in electricity costs.
The solar arrays will be installed at the Erina Depot, Peninsula Leisure Centre, Central Coast Stadium, Niagara Park Sports Stadium, Gosford Regional Art Gallery, Laycock Street Community Theatre and Council Administration Building in Gosford. Each site will reduce it total grid demand by around 10 per cent.
Gosford Council Paul Anderson said it was cheaper to install and operate a solar power system than to purchase electricity from the grid. “We hope our actions will also encourage local businesses to follow in our footsteps.”
Solgen Energy has been contracted the design, commissioning and installation of all seven sites. The total cost of the project is $900,000, and is expected to be completed by March next year.
Solgen Energy Director David Naismith said deploying solar power generation allowed council to directly pass environmental and ultimately financial benefits onto all of their ratepayers.
Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of One Step Off The Grid, and also edits and founded Renew Economy and The Driven. He has been a journalist for 35 years and is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review.
