P O Box 1239
COOMA NSW 2630

Updated January 22, 2011

We welcome your comments or suggestions.

Please tell us about the issues in Cooma and shire area that are important to you

The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme was the first large scale renewable energy project with a presence in Cooma.

When the building of the scheme was completed a number of the engineers working on the project decided to form a new engineering consulting organization called Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC).

SMEC is world renowned for its skills in designing water conservation projects, hydro electric projects, bio-mass projects and other projects related to renewable energy.

One of the engineers who was with SMEC has gone a step further and has designed and produced a system for capturing solar energy and concentrating it into a graphite block. The block has a series of tubes containing water running through it. The heat in the block heats the water to steam which runs a turbine which in turn is connected to a generator.
This project has now reached the commercial stage and the first site is being constructed in the central west of New South Wales for Country Energy.

The local expertise in renewable energy has led Cooma Unlimited to investigate how this knowledge can be used to create a centre of excellence in renewable energy in Cooma.

We have the local expertise, CSIRO and ANU close by and low cost land and housing. We also have an active Clean Energy for Eternity group in the area.

With all these ingredients available all we need to do is find the recipe and the chef to bring it all together into a tasty dish.

This is the part where we need input from our members and readers.

How can we attract renewable energy businesses or start up businesses to locate in Cooma where there is an excellent network of existing renewable energy expertise.

Cooma Unlimited would welcome your input through our "contact us" page.

11th August 2010 NEWS
Boco Rock Windfarm approved
Member for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly has welcomed the news that approval has been granted for the second largest windfarm in NSW - a $700M 270megawatt facility to be located near Nimmitabel on the Monaro.
Another reason for the Monaro to become a leader in renewable energy technology.

August 2011
There appears to be a hold up with the development of the Boco wind farm due to uncertainty about government support and policy.