Renewable energy retailer signs deal with small solar and battery hybrid to supply recycling facility

Australian renewable energy company Flow Power says it has signed a 5-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to supply firmed electricity from its Cootamundra Energy Project in New South Wales.

In the first PPA to be signed for electricity generated from the facility since battery storage was added to the existing solar farm in 2025. Flow Power in turn will supply renewable electricity to Soilco, a family founded company which designs, builds, and operates innovative organics recycling facilities.

The Cootamundra Energy Project includes a 5.8 megawatt (MW) solar farm with its new 8.1 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery storage system.

Soilco says the renewable energy deal will cut costs and emissions, provide financial certainty and support its continued operational growth and sustainability objectives.

Soilco selected Flow Power following its involvement with the NSW government’s Sustainability Advantage program, in which it partnered with Presync to calculate its baseline emissions, identify net zero pathways, and prepare a forecast model for electricity usage across its NSW and ACT infrastructure network.

The company, which services councils and commercial waste generators to divert organic waste from landfills, hopes the PPA will cut its electricity spend as well as reduce its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 10 per cent.

“As Soilco’s processing capacity and infrastructure network has grown, our electricity needs have grown with us, so it was important to secure an energy solution that could support both our operations and our sustainability goals,” said Alex Hatherly, CEO of the Soilco Group.

“With support from Sustainability Advantage and Presync, we were able to better understand our current and future footprint. This gave us the confidence to go to market for a PPA that aligned with our long-term direction and supported our efforts to electrify our processes.

Jacob Mahoney, Flow Power’s chief commercial officer, said businesses are looking for practical ways to reduce emissions.

“Soilco is a strong example of that shift. Its core service helps councils and businesses to reduce emissions, and this agreement supports that mission with renewable energy matched to the needs of a growing business,” he said.

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