No rooftop, no problem: “Solar garden” offering opens to whole of grid

An innovative solar offering originating in New South Wales will now expand to offer “solar garden plots” to customers in Victoria, the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania, and south-east Queensland, making solar available for those unable to install their own rooftop solar.

The Haystacks Solar Garden has been in the works since 2020 after several NSW locals met and conceived of the Haystacks Solar Garden.

The idea behind a solar garden is a simple one: Anyone who cannot install rooftop solar on their own house or apartment – such as those living in high-rises or renters – can buy a “plot” in the solar garden and receive on-bill solar credits each month on their electricity bills.

Initially launched for NSW residents, Haystacks announced on Wednesday that it was expanding the offer to buy a solar garden plot for eligible customers in Victoria, the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania, and south-east Queensland.

Anyone eligible for an account with electricity retail partner EnergyLocals will be able to purchase a plot and, once the solar farm is built, solar garden credits will be applied to their electricity bills for 10 years.

“From Brisbane, out to the Barossa and down to Burnie, anyone who pays for electricity can now harvest solar power as a solar gardener,” said Kristy Walters, Community Power Agency director and chair of the Haystacks Solar Garden Co-operative.

“After purchasing their plot, solar gardeners stand to receive estimated savings of $505 on their electricity bill each year for a decade, making a difference to household budgets at a time when cost of living expenses keep rising.”

“If you can install rooftop solar, that will always be the best option financially. If you can’t, either because you rent, live in an apartment or some other reason, buying a solar garden plot is the next best thing. It’s better in many ways because it’s hassle free – no maintenance or insurance costs to worry about, with the added bonus that a solar garden plot moves with you.”

The planned 1.5MW solar farm at the heart of the Haystacks Solar Garden will be built at a farming property in Grong Grong, an hour west of Wagga Wagga.

Haystacks has received funding from the NSW government under the Regional Community Energy Fund in association with Community Power Agency, Pingala, and Komo Energy, along with support from other organisations.