Rooftop solar has long been out of reach for many renters and apartment dwellers but the Haystacks Solar Garden in NSW’s Riverina has pioneered a new model for people locked out of rooftop solar. Haystacks is Australia’s first large-scale solar garden — and a recent winner of a Banksia National Sustainability Award. With 175 ‘solar plots’ generating power from the Grong Grong solar farm, this community-led project offers a new model for energy equity and a fresh take on how big solar can partner with communities. Nigel Hancock from community energy group Pingala, one of the key partners behind Haystacks, explains how solar gardens work and whether the model can be scaled to empower more communities around the country.