We’re proud to be leading the way towards a cleaner and greener Hobsons Bay with 54 per cent of Council’s electricity use now powered by rooftop solar (FY24-25).
Our rooftop solar project is reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 2,500 tonnes per year – the equivalent of a person flying Melbourne to Sydney about 14,000 times!
Council has installed rooftop solar systems on a wide range of Council-owned buildings, including offices, community centres, sports clubs and kindergarten services. Solar panels installed on these buildings generate renewable energy that is used on-site. Excess renewable energy is then allocated to other sites, reducing reliance on grid electricity.
Key milestones:
Solar panels are operating on 54 Council buildings, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 2,500 tonnes per year.
Council now operates more than 2.92 megawatts (MW) of rooftop solar capacity, and four batteries that store solar energy for use when it's needed most. This is delivering an annual emissions reduction of around 2,511 tCO₂‑e.
Fifty-four per cent of Council’s electricity use, including power for buildings and public lighting, is now generated by rooftop solar energy.
This results in substantial savings from reduced energy costs, which is money that Council can put back into the community.
Looking ahead, Council will continue to investigate opportunities to expand rooftop solar installations and improve energy efficiency across its facilities, supporting a cleaner and more resilient energy future for Hobsons Bay.
Thanks to Council’s solar program, many community groups and organisations including sporting clubs and kindergartens that operate in a Council-owned building have access to the renewable energy generated on-site.
Residents of Hobsons Bay can take pride in knowing their community facilities are being powered by green electricity.
Additionally, Council supports the community to access renewable electricity through a number of programs, including:
Free webinar recordings on energy topics (energy efficiency, solar, electrification, etc.) are available on the Renew YouTube channel.
Support to help residents electrify their homes including resources to help you plan the switch to electric appliances.
Links to programs, offers and rebates that support residents to install energy and water saving upgrades in the home.
Quarterly Living Green e-newsletter promoting workshops and events run throughout the year to support residents live more sustainably.
Council's progress can be tracked via Council's public reporting dashboard.