Solar program boosts community power

EIGHT community sites across the region will be powered by solar after being successfully nominated for inclusion in a Geelong Sustainability initiative that is boosting the take up of renewable energy.

In conjunction with RACV Solar and engineering company Mondo, the Geelong Community Solar Program is delivering 2.5 megawatts of renewable energy capacity across the municipalities of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Colac Otway, Golden Plains and Queenscliffe.

Open to homes and businesses, the program also enabled community sites to be nominated for a share of 250 solar panels donated by RACV Solar.

“At the start of the program RACV Solar committed to donating a solar panel for every system installed, so we’re thrilled to announce that equates to a hundred kilowatts of solar across the eight community sites,” RACV Solar chief executive officer Andy McCarthy said.

Successful recipients of the panels include Feed Me Geelong, Point Lonsdale Lawn Bowls Club, Birregurra Bowling Club, Anglesea Art House, Apollo Bay Mechanics Hall, Gellibrand Community House, Norlane Community Centre and the Torquay Tigers Football Netball Club.

“Geelong Sustainability set an ambitious target of installing 2.5 megawatts of solar energy capacity and to meet that target is a huge success for all involved and shows the desire for solar power across the state,” Mr McCarthy said.

Geelong Sustainability President Vicki Perrett said the program’s success demonstrated that Geelong and neighbouring communities are embracing a cleaner energy future.

“We’ve really been able to boost solar energy uptake in this region and delivered jobs and cost savings to the community in the process,” she said.

Mondo’s general manager of distributed energy Dhammika Adihetty said the company contributed its energy management system, Ubi, to the rollout.

The company’s smart controller system collects and analyses data from devices and control circuits allowing tenants to control how electricity from their solar and battery system is used.

“Mondo is delighted to be able to showcase our pioneering technology to support the Geelong community in their transition to renewable energy,” Ms Adihetty said.