Otway Health powers up with more solar

WORK on Otway Health’s component of a solar project supported by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) South West Solar Project was scheduled to be finished last week.

Otway Health has invested $80,000 into solar infrastructure that will see environmental and financial benefits across the Otway Health site in Apollo Bay.

The team at QA Electrical Geelong have installed a new 30kW solar unit and 99 panels as part of the Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority’s Regional Health Solar Program.

The new infrastructure is in addition to Otway Health’s existing 10kW unit.

The investment was funded with the support of the DHHS through a capital loan that will be repaid with the savings made from decreased energy costs.

Otway Health has worked in collaboration across all health services in the Barwon South-West region to optimise capital costs and get the best return on investment.

“We are committed to exploring efficient energy solutions, and investing in renewable energy sources makes for sustainable running costs and also benefits our environment,” chief executive officer Kate Gillan said.

The solar system upgrade will offset a significant amount of emissions that would normally have been produced through Otway Health’s existing methods of using electrical energy.

The project builds on Otway Health’s vision of being an innovative, responsive and highly professional organisation that adapts to the diverse environmental and health needs of the community.