Tracking progress

The Shire’s net emissions from electricity in FY2024 were 41,433 tonnes of carbon as compared to the 2018 baseline year of 69,251 tonnes of carbon. The locally avoided emissions has increased from 21,181 tonnes of carbon in 2018 (the baseline year for Z-NET) to 31,612 tonnes of carbon in the 2024 financial year. This is an increase of 49.2% in avoided emissions over the six year period that has been monitored. 

The most impressive activity has been what people have been doing in their own homes over the years. There is now 21.8MW installed solar PV capacity in the Shire. This is an 8.4% increase from last year and an a 107.5% increase on the 2018 baseline year. The Shire has gone from 17.7% of homes with rooftop solar in 2018 to now 37.6% of homes, which is 2.2 times in just 6 years. 

The scale of solar PV systems has also changed over time – in 2018 the average size was 3.6kW, whereas now, installation sizes average 5.9kW. For community renewables generation in the Shire – counting Hepburn Energy’s two turbines and the impact of rooftop solar, equalled 37,760MWh this past year. That is almost double what was generated in 2018 (96% increase). 

Total electricity consumed has increased by 15% since 2018, from 82,024MWh to 94,695MWh in the 2024 financial year. Although, it was only a 1.5% increase from the previous financial year. This is likely due to the increases in population, and, gradual transition from gas appliances to all-electric. There is a strong case for increased energy efficiency in households and the role for household batteries as most rooftop solar generation is currently exported into the grid rather than being used in homes. 35.9% of solar generation is being consumed by households behind the meter and overall the Shire consumes 38.8% of clean energy  via community renewables and associated Power Purchase Agreements held by Council and Central Highlands Water. 

The Z-NET electricity audit for FY2023 showed significant gains in rooftop solar across the Shire, with 4MW of new solar installed in the year, bringing the total installed solar to 20.1MW. 

The community almost doubled their rooftop solar since 2018 (93%). This means that community wide the Z-NET targets for new solar PV on residential and business (8.5MW) have been met. 

Of particular note, were Cameron and Holcombe Ward both at 39% rooftop solar penetration up from 24% for Cameron and 26% for Holcombe. 

Electricity consumption continued to rise due to electrification but was offset by huge growth in solar, slowing growing at around 4,000MWh per annum. Due to this combination of factors, there was a small reduction in electricity emissions – from 49,536 to 48,097 tonnes.

2023 marked the second year of Phase 2: 2022 – 2024 which has a focus on zero-net energy. The Shire’s net emissions from electricity for 2022 were 53,690 tonnes of carbon. 

The annual electricity audit considers the growth of local rooftop solar and wind generation as applied to local consumption, except this year, it has a new inclusion of the 100% GreenPower Power Purchase Agreements contracted by large local consumers Central Highlands Water and Council. Generation from community solar and wind match 34% of our electricity consumption, while GreenPower PPAs offset another 1.8%, to a total of 35.8% for the year.

Although huge gains have been made in recent years from local rooftop solar, this year also saw a significant increase in consumption across the Shire, especially compared to the two years of low consumption during Covid. Consumption has been increasing yearly by between 2.5-3.5% on average and this is a trend that is also anticipated to grow due to the electrification of homes and vehicles. This dynamic creates further impetus for a faster transition and for focus on energy efficiency activities. Since the baseline year of 2018, rooftop solar has increased from 10.5MW of installed capacity to 16.9MW – a 62% increase. The largest increase for the year occurred in Creswick Ward with an uplift of 4% to 33% of homes with rooftop solar, with Holcombe Ward leading the solar uptake for the Shire with 36% rooftop penetration.

In 2021 the Hepburn Z-NET electricity audit found that renewable electricity from solar and wind matched 42% of our Shire’s consumption, increasing 5% from last year.

Solar generated 17,840MWh of renewable energy, increasing by 3,260MWh.

There was 55,180MWh of electricity consumed from the grid and 11,410MWh of solar (consumed on-site), coming to a total 66,590MWhs.

In 2020 the Hepburn Z-NET electricity audit found that we generated enough renewable electricity from solar and wind to match 37% of our Shire’s consumption. 

A big achievement for the year was surpassing our 2029 target for residential solar in 2020, reaching a capacity of 11.7MW.

Solar generated 14,580MWh of renewable energy and the wind farm generated 10,310MWh. There was 58,230MWh of electricity consumed from the grid and 9,130MWh of solar (consumed on-site), coming to a total 67,360MWhs.