Nectr is investing in solar farms and renewable initiatives
Nectr’s parent company, Hanwha Energy Australia, is in the process of developing two solar farms as part of our focus on a sustainable future. On completion, these solar farms will produce enough energy to power up to 65,000 homes, further cementing our commitment to supplying our customers with renewable energy.
Not only will Nectr be helping to power more Australian homes, but with the economic benefits associated with the solar farms’ construction and ongoing maintenance, as well as the increased potential for other industries – Nectr is powering more possibilities.
Building a solar farm
The typical construction time for a solar farm is about 1 year, depending on how large the project is. The developmental stage is the most crucial as Nectr must gain approval for development and grid connection.
A potentially interesting aspect that many people may not realise, is that now building a solar farm can be a little like building with Lego bricks: a modular piece is repeated thousands of times until the finished product is achieved. Due to the modular nature of solar panel assembly, it is relatively easy to keep construction periods to a minimum.
Working with local communities
As a result of Nectr working closely with local communities, we are better able to ensure that the benefits from the project are fully understood and enjoyed as widely as possible.
There are enormous economic benefits that come during the construction and operation phases. Various local contractors, builders, and businesses are required to help support the creation and maintenance of the facility. Nectr also acknowledges that it’s in everyone's best interest that we ensure our project is designed and developed in a way that respects the land on which we build.
Nectr currently has two solar farms that are at an advanced stage of development. The larger of the two is the Jindera Solar Farm, which produces 120 megawatts of power at its peak capacity. Located just north of Albury in southern NSW, the project covers around 520 hectares in size and will comprise of 300,000 solar panels.
The second project in development is Gregadoo Solar Farm. Situated on the outskirts of Wagga Wagga in NSW's Riverina, this solar farm will be the smaller of the two. Gregadoo will cover 150 hectares and will use approximately 120,000 panels, making it capable of producing up to 65 megawatts of power.
An increasing need for more solar farms
As an energy retailing business, Nectr must supply our constantly increasing number of customers with clean, affordable energy – and solar farms are one of the best ways of achieving this, though it is not the only way. Wind energy or hydroelectric technology can also be used. However, more than just the farms themselves are required to satisfy Australia's energy needs.
To support an uninterrupted energy supply at times when renewable energy generation is low, some form of energy storage technology is also needed. Battery energy storage, pumped hydro, or even gas in some cases, is currently used to meet customer demand. But since solar power is one of the cheapest forms of clean energy available, it is a key technology that Nectr wants to harness and provide to our customers.
Solar farms: Powering Australia's future
Renewable energy provides the cheapest form of new-built energy today and will allow Australia to transform its industrial base to provide new opportunities for the next generation of Australians.
Furthermore, having an inexpensive renewable energy source opens the door to a wide range of possibilities. One example is developing a hydrogen industry, as Australia can’t have a hydrogen industry without having very cheap renewable energy to produce the hydrogen.
Of course, there are also many other applications, such as the production of green steel and concrete, or the refining of other materials that we currently mine out of the ground and ship overseas for processing. All these kinds of things can be done locally - if we have low-cost renewable energy. It’s how Australian export industries can compete in a future where we are no longer exporting large amounts of fossil fuels.
Fun fact
One of our favourite fun facts is that only about 0.1% of the Earth’s surface area is needed to meet our entire energy demand from solar. That is an area roughly the size of Thailand or Spain, or two Victorias. While many people imagine that there’s not enough space for solar to play a very large role in our energy system, this is simply not the case.
Get involved with solar today
If you are considering solar as an option for your home, then Nectr has a range of products to suit your needs. We offer affordable options for both solar, and solar and battery bundles.
