Council’s energy retailer gets the green seal of approval
The Sunshine Coast Solar Farm’s energy retailer Diamond Energy has taken out a five star rating in the 2018 Green Electricity Guide— an independent ranking of electricity retailers in Australia.
The Sunshine Coast Solar Farm’s energy retailer Diamond Energy has taken out a five star rating in the 2018 Green Electricity Guide— an independent ranking of electricity retailers in Australia.
The 2018 guide rated 30 energy retailers based on their environmental credentials and is a joint initiative of Greenpeace and the Total Environment Centre (TEC).
Energy retailers are the link between energy generators and consumers and can choose where they buy much of their energy from.
Many still source from non-renewables such as coal and gas, but those with a five star Green Electricity Guide ranking are committed to sourcing from renewable energy generators.
Economic Development and Innovation Portfolio Councillor Stephen Robinson said council considered five energy retailers when choosing the company to which it would provide the energy generated by the Sunshine Coast Solar Farm.
“It was important to council that the power generated by the solar farm went to a company with outstanding environmental credentials,” Cr Robinson said.
Diamond Energy’s Managing Director Tony Sennitt said they own and source from all types of renewable energy generators, solar, wind, biogas and even wave.
“The Sunshine Coast Solar Farm is one of our bigger renewable sources, and while we own or source from tens of thousands of renewable generators across the country, the Sunshine Coast is the biggest and most innovative balanced load we service,” Mr Sennitt said.
“The solar farm’s performance to date is impressive and is making a significant contribution to a green energy future.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Climate and Energy Campaigner Nikola Casule said the electricity sector is the largest source of greenhouse emissions in Australia with about 80% of our electricity still coming from coal and gas.
“It’s exciting that some local and state governments are really taking up the slack and transforming the energy sector from the old model of centralised coal and gas power stations to a new model based on local renewable energy generation, storage and trading,” Mr Casule said.
Cr Robinson said the Sunshine Coast community could easily join council in being part of the solution.
“By switching from a retailer that invests your money in fossil fuels to one that generates or buys energy from renewables, you are voting with your wallet and sending a signal to Australian energy companies that you want them to get serious,” Cr Robinson said.
“Residents can use the green energy guide to support innovative green retailers, help tackle climate change, take control of their energy needs – and save money.”
Visit https://www.greenelectricityguide.org.au/#ratings-container to see how your energy retailer stacks up.
The Sunshine Coast Solar Farm recently won the sustainability excellence award at the Local Government Managers Australia awards.