Lardner Park’s first step to renewables showpiece
Lardner Park will soon take the first step towards becoming a demonstration site for how renewable energy can support farming and agriculture.
State Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio was at Lardner last week to announce funding of $210,000 to construct a floating solar power generating project at the property.
Home to the annual Farm World exhibition and numerous other events that attract thousands of people over the course of a year Lardner Park is seen as an ideal location to showcase innovation in power generation for rural enterprises.
Chief executive officer Craig Denman said the renewable energy projects were being undertaken in collaboration with not-for-profit Gippsland Climate Change Network.
He said the eventual aim was to add solar powered hydro stations, a micro wind generator and battery storage.
The initial floating solar system will feed power into the transmission grid as well as meet some of Lardner Park’s electricity needs.
Mr Debnam said the 50 kilowatt solar installation would be on the eastern bank of the large dam on the property and he expected design planning would start in the next few months.
He said Lardner Park’s management committee and the Gippsland Climate Change Network were thrilled and excited to be involved jointly in the project.
Ms D’Ambrosio said the solar development at Lardner Park was one of nine renewable energy projects that would share $2 million being provided through the Latrobe Valley Energy and Growth Program.
It would take advantage of under-utilised space keeping viable land for agriculture, reduce water evaporation from the lake and prevent algae growth.
The LVEGP funding is being allocated across Latrobe City and Baw Baw and Wellington shires to reduce carbon emissions and create jobs.
Other projects announced last week by Ms D’Ambrosio include the development and manufacture of portable solar battery systems to assist emergency services during severe weather events, battery energy storage systems for farms and solar installations and storage capacity for volunteer emergency services.