A clean energy project in Cowra which has the potential to cut electricity costs and improve energy security for users has received a $1.03 million boost from the federal government.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack announced that C.L.E.A.N Cowra Incorporated had been awarded $1,031,556 under round one of the federal government's Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund.
The funding will support a feasibility study into a 1 megawatt solar and battery microgrid which has a target of reducing electricity costs by 10 per cent.
It will look at whether establishing a microgrid, or upgrading existing off-grid technologies, would better meet the electricity supply needs of the Cowra community.
Mr McCormack said the feasibility study grant will help bring the microgrid project to investment readiness.
"This project, if implemented, will bring together the energy needs of several large industrial businesses into a single embedded network and ensure local businesses can grow and thrive which means more jobs and more economic activity," he said.
"Yet again, a town in the Riverina electorate is at the forefront of cutting-edge technology which has the potential to reduce emissions and cut energy costs.
"Microgrids can help reduce electricity bills for regional and remote communities but can also deliver benefits for the grid as a whole by saving hundreds of millions of dollars in network costs."
C.L.E.A.N Cowra Incorporated's Dylan Gower thanked Mr McCormack for the funding.
"Receiving this RRCRF grant will contribute significantly to the delivery of the first stage of the CLEAN Cowra project," he said.
"With strategic development occurring over a number of years, this detailed feasibility for the local microgrid will bring the project through to investment readiness.
"This is an exciting opportunity to ensure delivery of cost savings and energy security for several large industrial businesses and council facilities.
"Once contracts are finalised, we are ready to get the work under way."
