The City of Armadale is investing in solar energy in its push to become greener.

The City of Armadale has an ambitious carbon reduction target of net zero emissions by 2030. Council adopted the City’s Corporate Greenhouse Action Plan in September 2021 which recommends a significant level of investment in solar energy.

Mayor Ruth Butterfield said the City is joining a growing group of Councils showing leadership on this important issue.

“Using renewable energy for our major buildings is a significant move to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Mayor Butterfield.

“It is great to see the City of Armadale leading the way in bringing down its carbon emissions and reducing costs to ratepayers by embracing solar energy at community facilities. Actions like this are a demonstration to other local governments and large energy users of what can be done right now to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Matt Keogh MP, Federal Member for Burt

Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity using PV systems and produce zero greenhouse gas emission. Solar PV systems are currently being installed at three of the City’s major buildings as part of the City’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure plan. The installation of these solar panels was made possible through $1 million funding from the Australian Government through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.  This program supports local councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia, supporting jobs and the resilience of local economies to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Installations are taking place at the Champion Centre (20kW), the Orchard House Administration building (140kW), and the Armadale Fitness and Aquatic Centre (AFAC) (500kW). The systems will generate over 1 million kWh of energy per year. This is equivalent to the annual energy use of 144 average Australian houses, and will save the City and their tenants approximately $200,000 in annual electricity costs. 

The solar PV systems on Orchard House and AFAC are the largest installations undertaken by the City to date (previously this was 39kW at the Armadale Arena).

“Other efforts to reduce the City’s carbon footprint, include purchasing renewable energy for contestable sites, operating a landfill methane flare, and undertaking a feasibility study to retrofit street-lighting with LEDs,” said Mayor Butterfield.

Contestable sites are those using in excess of 50mWh of electricity, and account for approximately 70% of the City’s total consumption.