Renewable energy in Cockburn
The City of Cockburn is leading the way in renewable energy. The City has been harnessing power from the sun since 2009 and has installed more than 5,700 photovoltaic panels on 22 community buildings, producing clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our community.
The City has the largest inventory of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems of any Local Government in Western Australia while also containing one of the State’s largest roftop solar systems at Cockburn ARC (1 MW). Currently, the City's renewable energy is used to power 26 per cent of electricity from council facilities.
As well as solar, the City has trialled wind turbines, provides electric vehicle charging stations in Spearwood, Cockburn Central and Success, utilises geothermal technology for heating the pools at Cockburn ARC and has a partnership for methane gas extraction at Henderson Waste Recovery Park to generate electricity.
We couple these efforts with ongoing energy efficiency measures to reduce our overall energy use for City buildings, parks and other facilities.
Renewable energy targets
In 2013, the City adopted a challenging but achievable target of 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020 for all Council buildings, achieveing this by 2018. The City's Climate Change Strategy 2020-2030 sets a new target for the City to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030.
Renewable Energy Policy
The City developed a Renewable Energy Systems Policy (LPP5.9) in 2011 to guide residents and businesses on approval requirements for wind turbines and solar photovoltaic systems. The policy outlines expectations for the installation and operation of renewable energy systems and provides a set of standards to minimise their impact on streetscapes, nearby properties and the natural environment.
Supporting community batteries
Through the City of Cockburn’s Climate Change Strategy 2020-2030, the City is committed to supporting Western Power with installation of community storage batteries. Owned and operated by Western Power, a community battery stores excess daytime energy produced by rooftop solar that can then be used later in the day when needed. Community benefits include supporting the electricity grid through improving power reliability, smoothing power flow in a local area and enabling further uptake of rooftop solar.
With the City’s support, Western Power and Synergy are launching a new Community Battery within the City of Cockburn. Announced in May 2023, the Coogee Community Battery is one of 6 new community batteries being delivered in WA through the Australian Government’s Community Batteries for Household Solar Program, adding to Western Power’s existing 13 community batteries across the South West of WA.
Residents in close proximity to the proposed Coogee location were contacted by Western Power in January 2024. Construction is scheduled to begin in October 2024.
For more information
Please contact Western Power’s Community Engagement team on (08) 9326 4850 or email [email protected]
For more information about the Community Battery program, please visit Western Power’s Community batteries FAQ’s.
Renewable energy projects
Henderson Waste Recovery Park
Renewable energy is produced at the Henderson Waste Recovery Park (HWRP) by methane extraction and flaring, which not only reduces emissions but manages our waste more sustainably. The methane extraction plant at the HWRP generates enough electricity to power over 3,000 homes. The roof of the Recycle Shop is home to a 3.6 kW solar PV system.
Cockburn ARC geothermal and solar
Cockburn ARC is home to one of Western Australia’s largest rooftop solar installation, with a massive 1MW system made up of 3,592 solar panels. The system generates approximately 48 per cent of the ARC’s annual power usage.
Cockburn ARC’s aquatic facilities are heated using a natural resource, geothermal energy. More than 3.8 million litres of water are heated by the geothermal system, saving proximately $500,000 per annum compared to a traditional gas boiler or electrical heating system. The system offsets 1,982 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum.
Renewable Hydrogen Feasibility Study
The City received a $149,412 grant from the State Government in 2020 towards a feasibility study on the development of a green hyrdrogen energy park at Henderson Waste Recovery Park (WRP). The City proposes to generate hydrogen from solar power as a zero emissions transport fuel for its waste collection and light vehicle fleets.
A renewable off-grid hydrogen plant at Henderson WRP would use solar PV array to power a deionised water electrolysis plant. This plant could enable:
- Refuelling of zero-emissions fuel storage cells for 15-16 electric waste collection trucks and 50 light vehicles over a two-year period.
- Compressed hydrogen would also be transported to embedded fuel cell cogeneration at Cockburn ARC to reduce power purchased from the grid during peak power cost periods and provide thermal heating for the pool water to off-set natural gas usage via the collection of thermal energy from the fuel cell.
- Compressed hydrogen could be used to power and heat the City’s new administration building via a green hydrogen cell, in 4-5 years. Other City infrastructure like the resource recovery precinct could also be provided with uninterrupted power systems.
The $325,704 feasibility study (including the $149,412 grant from the State Government) will determine the more detailed engineering, design requirements and economics of the green hydrogen energy park.
Solar powered electric vehicles
There are two electric vehicles charging stations at the City’s Civic Centre carpark on Coleville Crescent in Spearwood, and one at Success Library in Cockburn Central. The standard charging stations can charge an electric vehicle (EV) to about 50 per cent within the two-hour parking time limit for each bay. They are available during office and community facility opening hours. To use the stations, EV vehicle owners can contact the relevant supplier as detailed on each station. The power used by the charging stations is entirely offset through solar panels on the City’s buildings.
The Renewable Energy Vehicle (REV) Project team, sponsored by the Royal Automobile Club of WA (RAC) and University of Western Australia (UWA), donated the charge points for the Cockburn Central site with the City covering the cost of installation and power connection.
A third, fast-charge EV charging station is available to the public in Junction Boulevard, Cockburn Central. For more information on this charger, see this Media Release.
Cockburn Health and Community Facility
The Cockburn Health and Community Facility is home to a 99kW solar power system. It covers one third of the centre's roof with 423 solar photovoltaic panels. The system generates about 173 megawatts a year. It reduced the centre's greenhouse gas emissions by more than 171 tonnes in the first year and is expected to reduce over 4,284 tonnes over its projected life time.
Please contact Sustainability and Climate Change for more information on renewable energy in Cockburn on 08 9411 3444 or at [email protected].