MASH-wide news Archives - Page 4 of 53

Swan Hill Theatre’s Solar Bonus

Swan Hill Theatre Group’s electricity bill is going to be halved thanks to the installation of a free 6.6kW solar power system funded through the Mallee Sun Solar Bulk-Buy community bonus program.

L to R) Anthony Igmen from Specialised Solar, Nicholas Mudge from SHRCC, Jo Kaptein from Central Greenhouse Alliance, Trudy Rose Vice Chairperson – Swan Hill Theatre Group,. David Quayle Swan Hill Theatre Group – Life Member and Board Member, Mayor Bill Moar and Matt Iannucci, owner of Swan Hill Solar and Electrical

Electricity bill savings resulting from the solar installation will be used by the Swan Hill Theatre Group to help fund the replacement of their stage lighting, with more efficient LED lights in order to reduce their running costs and CO2 emissions.

Second free community system through the Mallee Sun Solar Bulk-Buy

This is the second free solar system funded through the Mallee Sun Solar Bulk-Buy, a partnership program with Swan Hill Rural City Council which is organised by the not-for-profit Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance which organises the Mallee Sun Solar Bulk-Buy as well as the MASH and Hepburn bulk-buys.

Trudy Rose Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors of The Swan Hill Theatre Group Incorporation said they were delighted to be selected as the recipient of the community bonus through the Mallee Sun Solar Bulk-Buy.

Solar will make a “big difference”

“This solar system is going to make a big difference to our ongoing running costs, both in terms of the electricity bill savings and the additional savings we will make once the LED lighting is installed.

“Our thanks to everyone involved in the bulk-buy for making this possible – local installers did a terrific job too,” Ms Rose said. Ms Rose said the project included a few additional complexities including the need for approval for solar installation on a heritage listed and also challenges due to the steepness of the roof.

Swan Hill Rural City Council’s Mayor Bill Moar said Council was pleased that another solar system had been installed for a local community group through the program. “The Swan Hill Theatre Group is very popular within our community – we are glad to have been able to support this community bonus grant which will help to ensure the ongoing viability of the Swan Hill Theatre Group,” Cr Moar said.

Local solar installer

Matt Iannucci, owner of Swan Hill Solar and Electrical who works as a sub-contractor to the bulk-buy solar retailer, Specialized Solar, said he enjoyed working on the Mallee Sun Solar Bulk Buy.

“We have installed literally hundreds of kilowatts of solar on homes and farms in the Swan Hill region through the bulk-buy in the last year and this has been a great kickstart for our business. “We see the Mallee Sun program as a win for the environment, a win for residents going solar, and a win for the community,” he said.

Find out more

For information about how the Mallee Sun Solar Bulk-Buy can help your home, business, farm or community group to ‘go solar’, visit mash.org.au/swan-hill or call 1300 466 274.

Big grants for farmers to go solar

Victorian farmers have a great opportunity to apply for substantial grant funding to improve the energy efficiency of their on-farming activities through Agriculture Victoria. The Agriculture Investment Plan has $30 million to support farmers with initiatives like solar power, battery storage and equipment upgrades.

To be eligible, your farm needs to spend a minimum of $8,000 inc GST per annum on energy costs (electricity, diesel, gas).

Step 1 – On-Farm Energy Assessment – applications closing date 15 July 2021

The first step in the process is to apply for an on-farm energy assessment through Agriculture Victoria. On-farm energy assessments will provide eligible farms and agricultural businesses with independent expert advice on how to reduce energy use, improve energy efficiency and manage energy costs. After each assessment, assessors will provide primary producers with recommendations to implement options to become efficient and productive energy users.

Assessments are free of charge to eligible businesses
Assessments will be carried out by independent expert assessors who will attend your property to conduct the assessment
Eligible businesses will receive a copy of the assessment including recommendations for energy improvements.

The on-farm energy assessments are conducted by registered independent experts to the national standard (AS/NZS 3598.2:2014).

Applications for on-farm energy assessments will close on 15 July 2021.

Step 2 – Apply for a Grant – deadline 15 December 2021

Once the energy assessment has been completed, the farmer is able to then apply for a grant.

Tier 1 grants – available to farm businesses with farm energy expenses over $8,000 up to $25,000 per annum inc GST – grants between $20,000 and $50,000 (excluding GST) with matched funding.
Tier 2 grants – available to farm businesses with farm energy expenses over $25,000 per annum
(including GST)– grants between $50,000 and $250,000 (excluding GST) with matched funding.

Applications for On-Farm Energy grants are open and will close on 15 December 2021.

Mallee Sun & MASH Solar Bulk-Buys Can Help

The bulk-buy team and our solar suppliers have helped farms navigate this grant process and successfully install large solar PV systems with tens of thousands of dollars of grant funding through this program. If you are interested in finding out how we can help, please email jo@cvga.org.au or call 1300 466 274.

Agriculture Victoria On-Farm Energy Grants

For more information about the Agriculture Victoria On-Farm Energy Grants visit this page.

Powercor is improving the grid

Powercor, the network distributor for much of central Victoria, is rolling out a Solar Hotspots Program across western Victoria over the next four months to help an estimated 50,000 customers who are generating excess power from rooftop solar to export back into the grid.

Targeting areas with high levels of rooftop solar penetration, the Solar Hotspots Program will improve export capacity and reduce tripping of solar systems that can otherwise be caused by voltage issues when excess solar is exported into the electricity network.

Together these network upgrades aim to enable at least 80% of new solar export applications to export 5kW.

Between March and June 2021, dedicated field crews will be working on up to 30 locations a week to increase power network capacity in Ballarat, Bendigo and Portland as well as the precinct between Sunshine and Point Cook in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

“We do not prevent customers from installing rooftop solar but we have a responsibility to all our customers to make sure any excess electricity is safely exported into the network,” Powercor spokesperson Mark Clarke said.

“Solar exports can affect the quality of power supplied by electricity networks because by injecting electricity, they impact on voltage. This potentially impacts other customers including those without solar.”

Hot spot areas that are being upgraded that fall with the MASH bulk-buy areas include: Maryborough, Bendigo, Ballarat and Kyneton.

Read the media release.

Small business solar rebates from May 2021

Eligible businesses will be able to apply for a small business rebate of up to $3,500 through the Solar Victoria portal from May 2021.

Rebates will cover up to 50 per cent of the cost of a rooftop solar system up to 30kW, reducing the upfront cost of installing solar on their business premises.

To receive a small business solar rebate, the business must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Be the owner of a business which has less than 20 employees
Operate from premises that are not considered residential
Operate from premises that are individually metered
Have your system installed by a Solar Homes approved solar retailer as detailed on Solar Victoria’s website
Install a solar system with a PV capacity size up to 30kW, and detailed on the Solar Homes approved product list.

If your home is your main place of business and you meet the eligibility criteria for the residential program, you may be eligible for a Solar Homes rebate.

Eligible businesses will be able to apply for a small business rebate of up to $3,500, through the Solar Victoria portal from May 2021.

The rebate is only available for installations which occur following the program formally opening for applications in May. Systems installed prior will not be eligible for a rebate.

Minimum solar feed-in tariff set to drop from July 1

The Essential Services Commission (ESC) has announced that the 2021–22 minimum feed-in tariff will reduce to 6.7 cents per kilowatt hour from 1 July 2021. Currently, the single minimum feed-in tariff is 10.2 per kilowatt hour, so this will be a 34% reduction on the current tariff.

Time-varying feed-in tariffs will also fall to similar levels.

The decrease in minimum feed-in tariffs is mainly due to recent decreases in wholesale electricity prices that are expected to continue into 2021–22, according to the ESC.

Energy retailers are required to notify their solar customers of annual feed-in tariff rate changes at least five business days before they take effect.

Read the full details on the Essential Services Commission website.

Council makes solar accessible for residents through bulk-buy program

L to R – Anthony Igmen with Specialized Solar Solutions, Mayor Jo Armstrong, and Jo Kaptein with MASH

Ararat Rural City Council has a plan to help households and businesses reduce energy bills across the municipality through a new solar bulk-buy program.

Through Council’s involvement with the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, Ararat Rural City households can install solar, take control of their bills and protect themselves from future price rises.

CEO Dr Tim Harrison is pleased with the opportunity that More Australian Solar Homes (MASH) offers the local community.

“Council recognises there is demand for solar energy but many residents are put off by upfront costs and navigating the complexities of getting the right system,” said Dr Harrison.

“Under the MASH program, residents will have access high-quality solar at good value prices, making it easier to install an effective rooftop solar system.

Eligible homeowners and renters can access the State Government rebate and interest-free loan of up to $3,700, significantly reducing the out-of-pocket cost of a typical 3.7kW system to under $1,000. Following recent changes, small business owners also have the opportunity to reap the benefits of renewable energy by accessing the Victorian Government’s Solar for Business Program.

“Council recognises it’s a big investment and encourages residents who are interested to speak with MASH and figure out if investing in solar panels or a battery is the right choice for them,” he added.

MASH project lead Jo Kaptein said local installers and local community groups are set to benefit from the program too.

“At MASH, we’re looking to work closely with Ararat Rural City installers to promote local job opportunities,” said Ms Kaptein.

“The program aims to donate $5,000 in solar grants to eligible local organisations – more details on the grant program will be released in coming months as the program gets underway.”

“Knowing where your energy comes from and how much it’s costing means residents can make smart decisions for their household or business,” Dr Harrison continued.

“Across Ararat Rural City, 23 per cent of homes have adopted solar compared with the national average of 27 per cent, meaning there’s room for more households to benefit.

“Not only are solar panels more sustainable and energy-efficient but these systems often pay for themselves in the long run.

“Solar has the ability to provide low-cost energy throughout the day, meaning residents can cool their homes during heatwaves without the price tag, further protecting our community.

“It’s a true community-driven project and hopes residents will embrace the challenge to reduce energy costs to create a better future,” Dr Harrison concluded.

MASH Solar Bulk-Buy is delivered by the not-for-profit organisation Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, which supports councils across central and north western Victoria.

Further information is available via www.mash.org.au/ararat or call 1300 466 274.