Haystacks Solar Garden is an Australian first and a new way for those who are locked out of owning rooftop solar to finally share in the benefits of solar energy.
Haystacks Solar Garden is Australia’s first large-scale solar garden, providing anyone who is locked-out of rooftop solar with the opportunity to participate in (and benefit from) the transition to renewable energy.
Launched in April 2024, the project is hosted by the 1.5MW Grong Grong Solar Farm in NSW Riverina. Members purchase a solar ‘plot’ and then receive credits on their electricity bills, enabling them to benefit from solar power without needing to own a sunny, suitable roof.
The project, developed by Community Power Agency, Pingala, and Komo Energy, offers a new, innovative way of addressing energy inequity, whilst also taking action on climate change and contributing to a renewable energy future. By generating 3,700 MWh annually, it generates enough power for up to 700 households and reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 2,700 tonnes each year.
Funder:
New South Wales Government’s Regional Community Energy Fund and Community Funded
Haystacks Solar Garden is Australia’s first large-scale solar garden, providing anyone who is locked-out of rooftop solar with the opportunity to participate in (and benefit from) the transition to renewable energy.
Launched in April 2024, the project is hosted by the 1.5MW Grong Grong Solar Farm in NSW Riverina. Members purchase a solar ‘plot’ and then receive credits on their electricity bills, enabling them to benefit from solar power without needing to own a sunny, suitable roof.
The project, developed by Community Power Agency, Pingala, and Komo Energy, offers a new, innovative way of addressing energy inequity, whilst also taking action on climate change and contributing to a renewable energy future. By generating 3,700 MWh annually, it generates enough power for up to 700 households and reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 2,700 tonnes each year.
The project utilised innovative strategies to empower members to take charge of their energy future. Members, or ‘solar gardeners,’ purchased Cooperative Capital Units (CCUs) in order to receive on-bill credits from the participating electricity retailer. The funds collected from CCUs debt financed a portion of construction costs of the solar array garden and secured the project’s cash flow. ‘Haystacks Solar Garden Cooperative’ was established to manage the solar garden through a cooperative governance model, ensuring democratic decision-making and robust community engagement.
As Australia’s first large-scale solar garden, the Haystacks project showcases several groundbreaking features, pushing the limits of sustainable development to new heights for Australians who have otherwise been left out of the clean energy transition. The project’s cooperative model, combined with its innovative use of CCUs, has provided a unique funding and governance solution that involves members as valued, active participants and co-owners of the project. It also sets a precedent for solar garden implementation within the Australian legal, financial, and energy systems, paving the way for further projects and proving that solar gardens belong in Australia’s clean energy future.
Australia is undergoing a renewable energy revolution. However, up to 30% of Australians (such as those who are renting, live in an apartment or simply don’t have a suitable roof) aren’t able to access rooftop solar. That represents an enormous untapped potential for investment in domestic solar that, until now, has not been enabled.
Managed by Haystacks Solar Garden Cooperative, it ensures democratic decision-making and robust community engagement, setting a standard for future solar gardens in Australia. Haystacks Solar Garden demonstrates how innovative, community-driven solutions can create a more inclusive and sustainable energy system.
Haystacks Solar Garden’s estimated annual generation of 3,700 MWh can power up to 700 households and reduces NSW emissions by approximately 2,700 tonnes of CO2 annually. With an estimated operating life of 34 years, the project will prevent over 90,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. The initiative has successfully enabled 407 members and 149 plot holders to participate in the solar revolution, bringing to life the vision of solar participation for those otherwise locked out of rooftop solar.
Beyond these quantitative results, Haystacks Solar Garden Cooperative, in utilising the cooperative legal structure, has demonstrated the viability of participatory and democratic governance models for energy projects in Australia. The co-op engages members in decision-making through a democratic structure and commitment to reaching quorum among members. While this model is not without challenges, it ultimately produced almost unanimous agreement at key decision points in the project journey. Reliable and transparent communication with participants, host community members and other stakeholders, led to the project receiving zero objections to its development application public exhibition phase.
A knowledge-sharing report was developed to share learnings from the project, accompanied by a webinar.
The project has been featured on more than 20 media platforms, including national coverage on ABC TV, radio and online – further spreading the word that inclusive, community-driven solutions have a strong place in Australia’s solar revolution.
