A solar photovoltaic system converts the energy of the sun into electrical energy. You can do your bit to reduce the production of harmful greenhouse gases by installing a solar photovoltaic system. It has never been easier or cheaper to do so.

For further information see Fact Sheet 1: Solar Photovoltaic Electricity and The Solar PV Contacts List.

MASG Bulk Buying Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Pilot Trial Program – 2008

Putting it all together:
There was and still is a lot of interest in our community in the concept of installing a personal solar PV system. Early in 2008 MASG decided it was an important part of our role to help our members realize this dream and decided to put together a bulk buying program on their behalf. The most important part of the program was to identify a suitable supplier and installer who was capable of importing shipping container loads of panels from China. We chose the Sydney Energy Coop (SEC) for this role as they are also a non profit organization and were set up with the intention of making cheap solar packages available to climate action groups. http://www.energycoop.com.au/content/index.php One of the SEC directors, Maurice Wells, helped us put together some very competitively priced packages for our participants, that included both 1 and 2kW inverter options. The next important partner to recruit was local electrician, Steve Breheny who was recruited to perform electrical inspections for participants and assist with the installations. The Bendigo Bank were also an important partner in the project, providing a very non standard loan to allow us to offer bridging finance to participants who required it. http://www.bendigobank.com.au/public/community_bank/community_bank.asp?name=maldon

Information and administration:
A public information session was held at the Ray Bradfield Rooms in May 2008 to give prospective participants some background information on the solar PV packages available and how the program was to be rolled out. Word spread quickly throughout the community and within a short space of time there were 72 participants enrolled. With valuable assistance from MASG volunteers, applications for preapproval for the $8000 rebate were submitted to the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, and applications for connection to the electricity grid submitted to Powercor on behalf of the participants enrolled in the program. Valuable assistance from MASG volunteers and the Public Interest Legal Clearing House was provided to prepare the necessary contractual documents. http://www.pilch.org.au/

Installation:
Maurice and his team came down from Sydney and with the assistance of Steve Breheny and his team, installed an initial 20 systems in early October 2008 and returned in late November 2008 to install the remaining 52. Maurice also ran a workshop at the end of November 2008 at the completion of the installations, to explain some basic operational and maintenance requirements of the systems. While there were a few teething problems with the preparation of the paperwork required to access rebates and have meters installed, in general, most participants are very happy with their system and its performance.

Major benefits:
There are now an additional 72, 1kW solar PV systems installed in the Mount Alexander Shire, feeding over 105kW of renewable energy into the electricity grid and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our shire by over 150 tonnes per year. The systems are also saving each participant around $500 per annum on average at current electricity prices, a figure that will rise significantly when the state government feed in tariff is introduced in July 2009. The program also provided local employment opportunities to Steve breheny and his team of young apprentices and increased theirs skills and experience in the area of PV installations. Finally, we now have another 72 keen advocates of solar PV technology in our community who will be telling their friends and neighbours and raising awareness about the benefits of renewable energy. The general consensus is that the trial program has definitely been successful and we hope to run another one in the near future.

SOLAR IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY BUILDINGS:

Schools and Community buildings are eligible to apply for rebates through the solar in schools/community buildings program. During 2008, MASG will be coordinating rebate applications from State and Federal funding bodies for schools and other community groups in the shire (Sustainability Victoria’s Solar in Schools/Community Buildings Program and Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Solar Communities Plan). MASG would like to hear from community organizations who may be interested in joining this program to install solar PV systems on their buildings.
Donations to our tax deductible fund to assist our schools and community buildings become solar power stations can be made directly using the Our Community secure online donations service. We have established a secure public donations fund to support the project (use red DONATE button on right of this page).
A number of schools and community organizations have installed solar PV systems with additional educational components through this program. MASG provided a varying level of assistance to these schools and organizations and all systems were installed by the local solar PV installer, The Solar Bloke, Mr Stuart Jamieson.

SCHOOLS:

Castlemaine Secondary College are acting as a pilot for other schools this project. The 2kW solar PV system (pictured below) was installed in January 2008 and will be an integral part of the college’s sustainability education program.

Castlemaine Steiner School also had a 2 kW solar PV system installed as part of this program in January 2008 and are making full use of its educational capabilities.

COMMUNITY BUILDINGS

Newstead Pre-school, Newstead were the first community building to have their 2kW solar PV system installed as part of this program. The system (pictured below) was installed in December 2007 and is playing an important role in the Newstead Community in demonstrating the benefits of renewable energy produced by solar PV systems.

Bill Woodfull Reserve Clubrooms, Maldon used a grant from the Bendigo Bank’s Community Enterprise Centre, Maldon & District Community Grants Program to support the installation of their 2kW solar PV system (pictured below), which was installed in October 2008. A similar grant will be applied for to support the addition of a further 2kW in 2009.

The Castlemaine Football Club have also had a 2kW solar PV system installed on their clubrooms as part of this program. This system was installed in August 2008.

The Castlemaine Library used a grant from the Mount Alexander Shire Community Grants Scheme to support the installation of a 3kW solar PV system which is the largest of all the groups involved in the program at the stage. This system was installed September 2008.

Castlemaine Uniting Church had a 2kW solar PV system installed on the roof of their hall in August 2008 as part of this program. There are a number of community groups using the church complex that are assisting the church hall committee to educate the wider community about the benefits of benefits of renewable energy produced by solar PV systems, including Castlemaine District Accommodation Resource Group and the University of the Third Age.