Origin will supply solar power to 20 Sydney local councils from the 56MW Moree Solar Farm in northern NSW in a new renewable energy agreement that will meet up to 35 per cent of their demand.
In a group Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) led by the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC), Origin will also firm the solar with power from other sources such as peaking gas-fired power stations, making sure the councils have reliable supply when the sun goes down.
From 1 July 2019, Origin will provide the 20 participating councils with around 39,000MWh of renewable energy a year from Moree Solar Farm until the end of 2030. The balance of their electricity needs will be supplied as regular grid electricity to 2022.
The 20 participating councils are Bayside, Campbelltown, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Georges River, Hunters Hill, Inner West, Ku-Ring Gai, Lane Cove, Liverpool, Mosman, North Sydney, Parramatta, Randwick, Ryde, Singleton, Sutherland Shire, Waverley, Willoughby and Woollahra.
Origin executive general manager energy supply and operations, Greg Jarvis, said, “A growing number of customers are actively choosing renewable energy and we can bundle wind or solar together with firm generation that gives them certainty over supply and costs.
“SSROC wanted cost effective renewable energy and we have structured an agreement that gives these councils solar power from Moree Solar Farm during the day and firm generation at other times to cover demand around the clock.
“Origin is pleased to be helping customers take advantage of the falling cost of renewables, helping them to achieve significant cost savings and reduce their carbon emissions,” Mr Jarvis said.
The SSROC PPA follows similar agreements for firmed renewable supply, which Origin brokered with the University of NSW and Sydney Airport.
SSROC President and Mayor of Burwood Council, Councillor John Faker, said, “This is a huge achievement by local government. Councils will save money, lower their risk and reduce their carbon emissions. It will also give a much-needed boost to the renewable energy industry in NSW.”
Moree Solar Farm is owned by Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV). In 2016, Origin agreed to contract all of the renewable offtake from Moree Solar Farm under a 15-year agreement.
