The Hobart Showgrounds boss is looking at fast-tracking a massive solar array on the planned pavilion being built next year to combat soaring power costs.
Royal Agricultural Society CEO Scott Gadd has also flagged an 11-megawatt battery system to store the generated power.
He says the latest electricity contract offer slugging the showgrounds $50,000 for power alone was a shock, and he’s now intent on setting up the battery system.
The Society has been offered a 12 month contract which is 105% more than the current cost of power.
A two year contract represents a 91% increase on current power prices for the Hobart Showground, or an option for a three year contract is an 80% increase on current power bills.
“The total power bill is $130,000-odd a year, a lot of that is network charges, and then the price for what we actually use has doubled in the latest contract,” he said.
“It will help Tasnetworks stabilise the grid in Glenorchy, and will not only enable us to support our own energy needs, but also buy and sell energy into and out of the grid to control our electricity prices, potentially supporting those around us.”
Image: supplied
