Perth-based renewable energy company Solco has won a contract worth up to $850,000 to install solar power systems across seven buildings in Parkes, New South Wales.
Solco said the grid-connected photovoltaic systems would provide a total generation capacity of up to 250 kilowatts.
Executive chairman Dave Richardson said the tender process for the contract was “very competitive”, but established Solco as a leader in photovoltaic systems.
“We believe that local governments, medium sized and similar groups are the organisations that will benefit most from upgrading to solar energy systems in the near future,” Mr Richardson said in a statement.
“This is because the cost of solar energy is increasingly affordable because it steadily becoming close to parity with traditional electricity sources, plus they are now facing new cost impacts on purchasing electricity as a result of the federal government’s Clean Energy Bill.”
Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith said the community would derive significant benefits from the project.
“The ratepayers of Parkes Shire will receive an economic and environmental benefit from this project because the Council will incur lower electricity costs over the long-term and we will be making an appropriate reduction to CO2 emissions by generating our own electricity from the sun,” said Mr Keith.
“The Council believes that there is an expectation in our community that we will play our part in combating environmental change and managing local finances properly.
“This solar energy project ticks both boxes.”
At close of trade today Solco was up 1.12 per cent, at 9 cents.