Wagga Wagga City Council move forward with solar power installations

Wagga Wagga City Council has reported than in the year since it installed solar systems at its Civic Centre and Livestock Marketing Centre its investment is paying off.

Since the two systems were installed in May 2020 as part of the Council’s solar project, the panels have generated a combined 182 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy, saving over $46,000 in energy expenditure.

Explaining that said the 99 kilowatt (kW) solar panels on the Civic Centre building had been laid horizontally in order to maximise the number of panels the roof could fit, Wagga Wagga City Council

Council’s Project Coordinator, Thomas Lemerle stated “we’re very pleased with our system’s performance.

“We’re on track for the Civic Centre system to pay for itself in 2.6 years, and the Livestock Marketing Centre system in 3.3 years.”

With the move towards solar having been successful, plans are now underway to install a solar system at the Oasis Regional Aquatic Centre.

Commenting on this move, Lemerle added “wWe’re in the detailed design phase to install a solar system on the roof and upgrade plant within the building as part of our $1.3 million Oasis Energy Savings Project.

“The project will improve our services, for example the heating of the hydrotherapy pool will be more consistent, and the water temperature will be hotter. We’ll also have better air handling, improve the internal air quality and atmosphere with reduced humidity, and keep the air warmer during winter and cooler in the summer.

“It’ll be the first step in moving the Oasis towards clean energy and reaching Council’s targets for net zero emissions.”

In 2014, the Oasis Regional Aquatic Centre began its energy saving journey with the installation of a gas-fired cogeneration system.

After a successful tender bid, Simons Green Energy was appointed to design, supply, commission and maintain a 229 kW cogeneration system at Centre with new system providing up to 85% of the centre’s electricity demand and supplying hot water for space heating and for the swimming pools.

The installation of the energy system was made possible through co-funding by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency under its Community Energy Efficiency Program (CEEP). With a project cost of approximately $431,000, the project payback period is expected to be less than two years.

At the time, Centre Manager, Ben Creighton stated “the installation of a 229 kW cogeneration system at the Oasis Aquatic Centre has been a very successful project for Wagga Wagga City Council in partnership with CEEP and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. The commissioned plant is now in operation and is producing a significant reduction in energy costs while also providing environmental benefits through the reduction in carbon emissions.”

Image: Wagga Wagga Civic Centre. Credit: Wagga Wagga City Council.