Port Pirie Community Success Story
Background
The aim of the Community Solar Project was to source affordable solar & battery systems accessible to all, including access under a payment plan to make the investment affordable to the most vulnerable and to reduce both carbon footprint and offset the rising costs of electricity.
The base line target was to support the most vulnerable in the community by allowing them to obtain solar and/or battery systems over a set and achievable repayment period of around 4 years. Being Cash flow positive.
Prior to the tender, Council had run an Expression of Interest (EIO) with community members and had over 750 residents formally respond. After closing the EOI process, there were a number of requests added to the list and there was further opportunity for commercial enterprises to join the scheme. It was expected that numbers would increase to more than 1,000 once formal public presentations commenced.
As a knock-on effect, the EOI process also had significant interest from several Councils across South Australia where they were considering replicating the process.
Port Pirie Regional Council challenged conventional thinking.
Intentions of the project:
To use collective community buying power to reduce the cost of solar power to our community, protecting the community from uncertain and escalating electricity prices with a long term and definitive solution
To support all citizens in the Council area but particularly those most vulnerable in our community, (i.e. those on fixed income) by delivering reliable, affordable solar and battery as a long-term renewable energy project
Assure high-performance electricity generation and storage, guaranteed to stand the test of time, while being affordable for the economically disadvantaged.
Provide innovative solutions that could deliver on Community Solar Project intentions and not purely individual household-based systems
The selection processes - Why Cool or Cosy’s Community Power Network?
Following an exhaustive tender process, Cool or Cosy were awarded the Community Solar Project contract using their Community Power Network framework to facilitate and consult with the Community in the provision of affordable solar & battery in the region.
Council’s tender process focused on a number of key areas.
Quality of product,
Quality and longevity of the company themselves,
The company’s ability to provide first-class service and
Warranty back-up and
Their ability to provide a competitive pricing structure to benefit the wider Port Pirie Regional Council community.
“We found a great deal of information warning of the dangers of just buying on price – after all, we can all buy a cheaper system, product, appliance etc.
We discovered that some dangers in buying a cheap solar system included the strong possibility of low-end materials and having to trust warranties that have no back-up and are not worth the paper they are written on, and that’s not even taking into account the poor performance and returns on your system.
”
The Community Power Network solution supported Council’s bold vision and generated a range of exceptional results, for now and well into the future.
Proven third-party endorsed solar panels with market leading performance and quality guarantees
Embracing the entire community
Flexible and tailored packages to suit all levels of income and dwellings
Future-proofing the community with high quality products, backed with local support from a stable and strong business
Providing the community with information sessions and educational support to ensure value
Minimal Risk with Monitoring
There is no requirement for investment or procurement
The Council acts as a facilitator.
It is up to the individuals to decide if they want to participate or not
It is about delivering the best sustainable solution to protect against escalating electricity prices.
Futureproofing with world-class quality products, and installation with a lifetime horizon of at least 25 years.
Tindo as the only Australian Manufacturer here and in the Southern Hemisphere has an enormous investment and integral responsibility to Australian renewables, innovation, and lifelong relationships.
Current Status of the Program
Port Pirie Community Power Network, currently have:
- 451 Solar Systems installed in the Port Pirie region. This represents 2.16 MW (megawatt)and makes the average install around 4.8 kW.
- System sizes range from 1.9kW;3kW, 5kW to 10kW with commercial systems in the mix up to 30kW
- We have installed 66 Battery systems in the Port Pirie region which represents 727 kWh of storage
- 78 % of systems are under the affordable finance scheme presented to the community.
THAT MAKES THE PORT PIRIE CPN…
- The largest residential solar and battery rollout of its kind in Australia
- Our companies are the largest battery installers under the Home Battery Scheme in SA (approx. 25% of HBS)
- Port Pirie is the largest postcode penetration of batteries in SA under the Home Battery Scheme
Where to now for Port Pirie’s Community Power Network?
“Due to the geographic concentration of quality systems already installed, large export and a progressive and supportive council, this is the most advanced and ready to go Peer to Peer project in Australia ”
In this growing space, the next generation of energy opportunity for Port Pirie, Community Power Networks and its Mid North Neighbours is opening up, as a result of the community’s generation and storage capabilities. It is of course also a growing platform, with multi layered opportunities being presented and discussions, with several energy partners, investors and community retailers being reviewed to present aspects of the Peer to Peer and Virtual Power Networks potential to the Community.
Generation and Savings
Of the 451 sites installed in the Port Pirie region, we are currently actively monitoring 102 sites (which represents 508.3 kW),
as a fleet data collective, using independent monitoring through Solar Analytics.
Summer Sample
Winter sample
Solar Analytics monitoring was seen to be essential in insuring system deliverables both for the individual and Community Power Network objectives for the future
For individuals and the program overall, independent monitoring delivers confidence and assurance in the quality of the systems, provision of extraordinary service levels, gives credence to the long panel, inverter system warranties provided and proves importing in collective data as a research & development tool.
For the Community Power Network, having a collective, fleet reading, feeds research data that confirms and drives change for future opportunity as a Community Power Network, and actively celebrates the community results in a shared visual medium which equally promotes the success and ongoing growth.
- We have installed 451 sites in the region which represents 2.16 MW.
- The average size of the array is 4.91 kW and the size of the AC inverter is 4.73 kW.
- From the data set of residential households, the data shows us that the average household is
- Using 10.7 kWh a day from the grid (or $4.06c / day),
- Using 5.7 kWh a day of what they are producing (saving them $2.16 / day),
- and exporting 10.7 kWh a day (with that level of export giving them a rebate from Feed in Tariff of $1.712c a day)
- The average savings equate annually to around:
- $788 from self- generation/consumption
- and $624.88 from export/Feed in Tariff
- a total averaged around $1412.88 annually
Therefore, total savings estimated in 365 days on average across each household is $1412.88.
That is $1412.88 that each home could be spending annually in the Port Pirie region.
For the 451 homes, accounting for solar only, this is an estimated saving of $637,208.88 annually, averaged across all solar systems, able to deliver income relief and disposable income that could be spent locally.
With 66 Batteries installed under the Community Power Network, making these household generally self- sufficient, that adds an average additional 10.7kWh daily savings that would otherwise have been exported.
The average additional savings for these households equates to $2.14 a day, (allowing 0.18c loss of Feed in Tariff already accounted for in the above solar export calculations above).
That is to say an estimated additional $781.00 annually average savings, for each home with battery.
With 66 homes on battery, that is an additional $51,546 estimated annual additional average savings across the battery collective installed to date.
Summary Savings
When looking at the overall program, and average estimated savings across several pathways,
which buy into the Community Power Network has given the community, it can be summarised as:
One off savings
- Group buy in savings - In excess of $1M, as a Community Power Network, with the economies of scale and quality add value packages (one off) –
- Home Battery Scheme subsidies - $367,270.00 (one off) available to all South Australians through the Home Battery Subsidy scheme, however, driven by this collective and the aims for Community Power Networks.
Ongoing
- Average Solar Battery system savings from generation and storage - $688,754.00 (annual group savings subject to usage or changes). With the value of quality and the only Australian Made Panel and longevity of service on a 25year panel manufacturers replacement warranty to attain the lifetime goals for this program.
- Virtual Power Plant access – potential$132,000.00 first year one off up to - $336,600.00 over two years with the Simply Energy offer, depending upon member choice of retailer offer.
The savings and relief brought about through the Port Pirie Community Power Network, can be converted directly into:
- retention & generation of jobs
- Retention of community (not moving away through bill stress)
- Retention of business
- Business growth
- General community well being
Comments from the Community
“I just wanted to express my eternal gratitude for the opportunity from council to get solar panels put on our home through the community solar project. Ours were installed in March this year and the drop in our power bills was instant!
I have gone from dreading receiving a power bill to excited to see how much we have saved this quarter! My total amount payable was over $2500, this time last year, simply because I could never catch up! Every bill meant I had to start paying more every week. It was financially crippling! My bill today is $345, I cried when I opened this one too, but tears of pure relief!!!! Solar panels were something that were completely out of my financial grasps until this project came along, and it has changed our lives and financial goals completely!!!! I cannot thank the council enough!”
“In some section of the world, we are very much a head of the game because we do all the battery systems for community level – Nesimi Ertugrul, Adelaide University Consultant.
I have had a very good experience with Cool & Cosy from the first consult to the installation, I was willing to pay the extra for a Superior product and to keep the money in South Australia and keeping local in jobs, I thank cool & cosy for their great product.”
“GREAT JOB GUYS. Love the Aussie made panels and great service to boot.”
“We have debated for years about solar panels, when we finally decided to go ahead, we contacted Cool or Cosy. Our consultant was very helpful, from our first meeting until the panels were installed, service and attention to detail by the staff was impeccable. An all Australian product was a must for us. We highly recommend this company!”
“My electricity bill has dropped from $447 down to $199.00, now, as it has been explained to me, while the sunshine’s, Hey, I am making electricity, use it! People go pass and say, “Oh how ‘s it going?”, and I say,” Yeah, I’m doing fine,” “No, not you, the solar system” LOL!!!!”