Farms across Tasmania will soon be generating their own power as part of an energy trading community.
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The Sustainable Tasmania Energy Cooperative was launched at the Fruit Growers Tasmania conference at Devonport on Friday, with the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania already signing up as a foundation member.
Roman Voloshin, of Sustainable Tasmania’s parent company, Gravitas Energy, presented the energy cooperative to conference attendees, with many expressing an interest afterwards.
Tasmania generates the most renewable, clean power so it’s only natural to start here.
- Roman Voloshin
The cooperative will see farmers generating, consuming and selling energy, Mr Voloshin said.
“The rate of energy rises have skyrocketed in the past few years, but we’re using energy every day and the environment suffers,” he said.
Energy generated will be determined by the property, with all renewable options available including hydro, wind, solar, waste and geothermal.
“The generation uni will be suitable to that farm’s requirements. We are technology agnostic, so not bound to any one energy. Whatever gives the best yield to the farmer, that’s what we’re doing,” Mr Voloshin said.
“Tasmania generates the most renewable, clean power so it’s only natural to start here.”
The Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania worked with Gravitas Energy on a major 200-kilowatt solar installation at the Hobart Showground, and the relationship evolved into a cooperative that will benefit the primary industries sector.
Society chief executive Scott Gadd said the showground’s solar installation, and resulting cooperative, had already generated conversations.
“We are certainly getting interest from agricultural producers,” Mr Gadd said.
“We are hoping for a critical mass in a few months and taking expressions of interest now to make sure it’s up and running by the end of the year.”
Energy generated on farms will be shared between properties or communities and traded via a peer-to-peer network, which can both save money and generate additional income.
“Farmers can generate power on their farm and use it elsewhere. The profits generated will go back to members,” Mr Gadd said.
“We’re hoping it’ll be so successful we’ll need a second Basslink cable – or even a third,” he said.