The Zero Net Energy Town (ZNET) is an initiative to create Australia’s first town that produces all of its own energy requirements from renewables and that town will be Uralla in NSW.

There is already a ZNET in Germany that has its own ‘mini’ grid and gets all its electricity needs from renewable sources such as wind and biogas. ZNET will now research the possibility of developing Uralla into a town that operates solely off renewables as well. They will look into the financial and technical feasibility of the project while Moreland Energy Foundation Limited (who won the tender to develop the project) will research the business case to be presented in June 2015.

“The potential value of this model for Australia is quite significant, particularly given how abundant its renewable energy resources are and how distributed its energy needs are,” says StarFish Initiatives, which is leading a consortium of agencies backing the project.

Uralla was one of five towns in the Northern Tablelands to apply for the $105 000 grant to develop the idea. The five were Uralla, Walcha, Manilla, Tenterfield and Bingara.

“Uralla is delighted to be chosen as Australia’s first ZNET town. Council, business, the community and residents want to know how renewable and alternative energy can play a greater role in our local economy. This project will show us how,” said Uralla Shire Council Mayor, Mr Michael Pearce. “The Business Case is a vital first step in moving Uralla to a lower carbon economy. Without it we can’t begin to understand what needs to be done in a practical sense to make this a reality.”

Uralla is almost exactly half way between Sydney and Brisbane – it is 501kms north of Sydney. It has a population of around 2400 people. The major business electricity users in the town are foundries and metal manufacturers.

Starfish executive director Adam Blakester told the paper that an average town of 5000 people would spend up to $20 million a year on energy. “If we can produce that energy locally and competitively, we create a new industry.”

The ZNET Consortium comprises the Institute for Rural Futures at the University of New England; the Office of Adam Marshall, Member for Northern Tablelands; the Regional Clean Energy Program of NSW Office of Environment & Heritage; and NSW Trade & Investment.