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Winton Solar Farm to provide $35,000 in community support

October 25, 2021

Owners of the Winton Solar Farm will donate a further $35,000 to eligible community groups this October, as part of the solar farm’s annual Community Grants Program.

Now in its second year, the Grants Program provides financial support to eligible local groups that promote sustainability, deliver training and community participation and promote improvements to the health and safety of people in the Winton Glenrowan region.

FRV Managing Director, Carlo Frigerio, said the Winton Solar Farm Grants Program has traditionally received strong interest, an indication of residents’ active involvement in many diverse community groups and not for profit initiatives.

“This year’s Community Grants Program will deliver additional positive social impact and is one of the ways the team at Winton Solar Farm shares the benefits of operating this new renewable energy asset with the community,” Mr Frigerio said.

“Up to $35,000 is available to support local organisations and projects to deliver quality initiatives that reflect the needs and interests of the tight-knit Winton Glenrowan community.”

“We are particularly keen to support programs that foster skills development or pathways to employment – or that provide mentoring and hands on professional learning experience for community members, especially young people,” he said.

Applications for the Winton Solar Farm Community Grant are now open.

Construction of the 85-megawatt (MW) Winton Solar Farm was completed last year, with the Project in the final stages of commissioning.

When fully completed, the solar farm will provide enough clean energy to power over 52,000 homes.

A permanent team of five employees has been recruited from within the local area to operate and maintain the solar farm.

Information on how to apply for a 2021 Community Grant is available on the Winton Solar Farm website www.wintonsolarfarm.com/community

Applications close Friday 19th November.

FRV Updates

Bernard Briggs Pre-school is expected to save around $1500 a year on electricity, thanks to some newly installed solar panels.

Benalla Hockey Club and Glenrowan Primary School have been hard at work upgrading sports equipment and school facilities. Both have been recipients of the recent Community Grants Program, with funding allocated to support community lead initiatives.

MOREE SOLAR FARM

Moree Solar Farm began operations in 2016 and was the first large-scale solar project in Australia to use a single-axis tracking system.

 

Lilyvale Solar Farm near Emerald, Queensland (100MW)

Financial close of the Lilyvale Solar Farm was achieved during September 2017 with operations expected to commence in 2018. The project will benefit from a PPA with Ergon Energy, the QLD-government owned retailer, part of the Energy Queensland group, who will purchase 100% of the electricity generated by the project.