The Hepburn Solar Bulk-Buy is a community solar bulk-buy – supported by Hepburn Shire Council, Hepburn Wind and Hepburn Shire Z-NET – that makes it easier for households and businesses to go solar and add battery storage with an option they can trust. Local community groups benefit too, with over $30,000 of free solar donated to community groups and a school in the Hepburn Shire in 2019, with more to come in 2020.
Why our partners are supporting the bulk-buy
Now is a good time to go solar, with increased home working, home schooling and therefore greater use of energy. If more homes in our shire are powered by solar, that’s good news for everyone – with lower electricity bills, increasing energy independence and a cleaner environment. We recommend that anyone thinking of solar panels or installing battery storage takes a look at the Hepburn Solar Bulk Buy. It’s a reputable program and there’s a bonus for our community too, with free solar for schools and community groups.” – Cr Licia Kokocinski, Mayor of Hepburn Shire Council
We’re right behind the Hepburn Solar Bulk-Buy because, like us, it’s a community inspired initiative that’s about powering more homes and businesses with clean energy – and helping our community at the same time.” – Taryn Lane, Manager, Hepburn Wind.
The Hepburn Solar Bulk Buy is part of our shire-wide program to reduce CO2 emissions to zero by 2029. It’s a great community initiative and we recommend that anyone considering solar panels or batteries checks out what’s on offer. – Z-NET Hepburn Shire
Goals for 2020
Round 2 of the Hepburn Solar Bulk-Buy launches in April 2020, offering solar power systems and solar battery storage in partnership with the solar supplier for this round, Cola Solar.
Our goals for the next 12 months are to:
- Help people confidently invest in solar power – and where appropriate battery storage – to help them reduce their electricity bills, become more self-sufficient and to reduce their carbon footprint.
- Provide best practice advice relating to the impacts of COVID-19 on solar, as it impacts on households and businesses.
- Install 200 new solar rooftops in 2020, thereby cutting household electricity bills by around $140,000/yr and CO2 emissions by around 1,400 tonnes/yr.
- Donate at least two more free 5kW solar power systems to community groups and schools in the Hepburn Shire.
- Continue to be part of the bigger plan to achieve zero net emissions in the Hepburn Shire by 2029, the goal of Hepburn Shire Z-NET.
Not-for-profit organiser
The bulk-buy organising team is from the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (CVGA), a not-for-profit organisation based in Castlemaine that works with 13 councils in central and northern Victoria on climate change mitigation and adaptation activities.
The bulk-buy team started its first bulk-buy – called MASH (More Australian Solar Homes) – in 2014 which continues to go from strength to strength in the shires of Mount Alexander, Macedon Ranges and the City of Bendigo. Now, over 1,500 households have installed solar panels through MASH and other bulk-buys set up by the CVGA, namely the Hepburn Solar Bulk-Buy and the Mallee Sun Solar Bulk-Buy for the Rural City of Swan Hill.
Other supporters in the Hepburn Shire
CVGA is grateful for the support of local sustainability groups in the Hepburn Shire: SHARE, Trentham Sustainability Group, Transition Creswick and Clunes Sustainability Group.
CVGA receives a small commission on each installation in order to make a contribution towards the costs of marketing and administration of the Hepburn Solar Bulk-Buy project.
