Windarring’s Day Service in Castlemaine – which provides support and opportunities for people with disabilities – is the latest community group to benefit from free solar from the MASH community solar bulk-buy. The 6.48kW solar PV system is expected to save Windarring up to $2,500 off their first year’s electricity bill and around $67,000 over 20 years.
Windarring celebrates news of free solar from MASH community bonus fund, August 2018.
A great example of community collaboration
Fundraising for the 24 panel system was an example of true community collaboration”, said Jo Kaptein, manager of the MASH community solar bulk-buy. The largest contribution came from the MASH community bonus fund with the remainder from The Hub Foundation, Castlemaine State Festival and Windarring.
Solar to help Windarring be more financially self-sustaining
Inside the ‘Urban Mushroom Farm’ at Windarring’s Barker Street premises, Castlemaine
Solar will help make our operations more financially self-sustaining,” said Mark Castle, Employment Pathways Manager at Windarring.
Over 40 people access our services each week, at our Barker Street Centre, in addition to this we accommodate an after school program each evening. Our new ‘Urban Mushroom’ social enterprise is also located at this site which has increased our overall power consumption,” said Mark.
Solar will supply around 43 percent of electricity needs
The service’s electricity bills are highest in the peak of winter as the heating and cooling is all-electric. It is anticipated that 43 percent of the site’s electricity needs will be met by solar.
We are looking to have a smart meter installed, so can tell how much power is being used in the mushroom farm compared to the rest of the building, said Mark.
Bill savings will help mushroom farm grow – and create more jobs
Bill savings from the solar will be used to offset the cost of the mushroom farm and allow it to grow.
In twelve month’s time, our plan is to increase production tenfold which will allow us to provide more paid employment for people with disabilities in our region. Having solar is really going to help us power up!, said Mark.
Windarring – a stand-out application
“We received thirteen applications from community groups and schools for this grant,” said Jo. “Windarring’s application stood out because the benefit to the Service from the bill savings was so strong and would help secure the long-term financial viability of their mushroom growing initiative.”
To learn more about MASH, visit mash.org.au or call 1300 466 274.
Over 70 people attended the MASH community solar bulk-buy’s Info Meeting at the Gisborne Community Centre on Thursday 9 August 2018.
A crowd of almost 70 residents attended an information session in Gisborne on 9 August 2018 about the solar bulk buy program MASH (More Australian Solar Homes).
350+ MASH solar systems installed on homes in the Macedon Ranges Shire
This followed high attendance numbers at information sessions in Kyneton and Woodend the previous week, confirming the interest amongst residents to generate renewable energy and save money on power bills. In the four years it’s been running in the shire, MASH has resulted in solar systems being installed in over 350 homes in the Macedon Ranges Shire (and over 950 homes across Central Victoria), and a free solar system to a local primary school in Macedon Ranges Shire (Newham Primary School), as well as seven other free solar systems elsewhere.
The program arranges solar panel purchase and installation on behalf of residents, with the current Round 4 extending to solar battery storage. The solar supplier and systems are selected through a public tender process overseen by the Alternative Technology Association. Previously organised by the Hub Foundation in Castlemaine, MASH is now a program of the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance.
No doubt some readers will be on the premium feed-in tariff (FiT). The premium FiT is the amount paid by electricity retailers to eligible households for their solar exports. The scheme started in late 2009 and closed to new applicants at the end of 2011.
Premium feed-in tariff – paying 60-66 cents per kilowatt hour – but not open to new solar households
If are one of the lucky ones on the premium FiT, chances are you’ll be pretty happy about it. That’s because the premium FiT pays between 60c to 66c per kilowatt hour for any power your solar system generates and isn’t used in your home. Whereas if you are like me and have solar but no premium FiT, you’ll be earning between 9.9c and up to 18c per kilowatt hour for your solar exports – which is better than nothing but not in the same league!
For those people on the premium FiT, there’s more good news – it doesn’t end until 2024!
But… add to your system and you’ll lose the premium tariff – and that includes adding battery storage
But the ‘not-so-good’ news for those on this high tariff is that if you add more panels, you’ll lose the premium rate and be dropped down to the current tariff which is now 9.9c per kilowatt hour in Victoria (although some retailers offer more, so shop around). And if you want to add battery storage, the same applies – you’ll lose the premium tariff.
At our info meetings, we meet people on the premium tariff who are considering relinquishing it in order to get a bigger system and even add a battery – or at least be in a position to add one when prices come down. For some, the numbers can stack up particularly if they use a lot of electricity during the daytime.
New feed-in tariffs from 1st July 2018 for those not on the Premium FiT
Next week, I’ll be talking about the new feed-in tariff arrangements that kicked in from 1st July that apply to everyone else (like me) who has solar but no premium Fit. Whilst the basic minimum of 9.9c per kilowatt hour isn’t going to get many people excited – there’s another option which we’re anticipating that some retailers will offer which is much more interesting. So watch this space!
Learn more
If you are interested in going solar or adding battery storage, why not come to one of our info meetings? Gisborne 9 August; Castlemaine 21 August, Daylesford 29 August. To learn more and reserve your place at a meeting – or request a quote – visit mash.org.au or call MASH on 1300 466 274.
Jo Kaptein, Manager of the MASH community solar bulk-buy
Solar Matters is a regular column written by Jo Kaptein, Manager of the MASH community solar bulk-buy, and published in the Midland Express. The MASH team would like to thank the Midland Express for its continuing support of this bulk-buy.
A 50-strong crowd turned up at the Kyneton Mechanics Institute on Thurs 1 August to find out about the MASH community solar bulk-buy
Over 50 people came to the MASH Solar Bulk-Buy Info Meeting meeting yesterday evening (1/8/2018) to learn more about solar and batteries.
“Very informative”, “Terrific presentation” – those were the words from some of the 50+ crowd who attended last night’s info meeting about the MASH Community Solar Bulk-Buy in Kyneton. A big THANK YOU to Nathanael Stegmann (the presenter in this picture) from the MASH solar supplier, Energy Matters, for delivering such an interesting and engaging presentation.
Next MASH Info Meeting: Thurs 9 August, Gisborne Community Centre, 6.30pm-8.00pm. Reserve your place at: http://mash.org.au/events/ or call the MASH team on 1300 466 274.
Strong interest in solar and batteries at the MASH Woodend Info Meeting on 31 July 2018.
Around 30 people braved a stormy night to come out to the MASH community solar info meeting in Woodend on Tuesday 31 July. The MASH team was delighted to welcome Peter Lane, President of the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group, who opened the event and underlined MRSG’s ongoing support of MASH.
Since MASH started 4 years, over 300 solar PV systems have been installed on homes in the Macedon Ranges Shire. Now 23% of homes in the Shire have solar (up from around 19% three years ago) with some of that increase due to the MASH project.
Tomorrow night, the MASH team will be at the Kyneton Mechanics Institute holding another info meeting from 6.30pm-8.00pm.
Info meetings continue to be popular with local residents thinking about ‘going solar’
Over 70 people attended the two MASH community solar info meetings at the Castlemaine Town Hall on 25 and 26 July. “Despite having close to 30% of homes in Mount Alexander Shire with solar, it’s clear from the interest at these meetings that residents in the shire still want solar,” says Jo Kaptein, manager of the MASH bulk-buy. “Interest in solar battery storage is also very high but for many people, the cost is still a put-off.”
The MASH team was delighted that Cr Max Lesser and Mayor, Cr Bronwen Machin, of Mount Alexander Shire Council were able to open each of the events demonstrating council’s ongoing support of the bulk-buy.
No doubt some readers will be on the premium feed-in tariff (FiT). The premium FiT is the amount paid by electricity retailers to eligible households for their solar exports. The scheme started in late 2009 and closed to new applicants at the end of 2011.
