Credit: Wikimedia
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A solar sensation is sweeping the suburbs.
The concept is simple - buy in bulk and install in bulk. Rally fifty or so households in a geographic area commit to installing a 1kW photovoltaic panel system.
Solar suburbs, or solar communities, have started popping up around Australia, with the first ones getting a head start a couple of years ago. Local councils and community groups have also got on board, as have commercial programs.
The panels are ordered in bulk to reduce shipping costs and installed in houses in close proximity to reduce labour costs. The homeowner takes advantage of the Federal Government's $8,000 rebate and a $12,000 system suddenly becomes far more affordable at less than $2,000.
There are now 1,000 accredited solar panel installers in Australia; and, while those operating community bulk purchasing programs are in the minority, it is certainly an emerging trend. With the rebate about to end on June 30, 2009, solar neighbourhoods are springing up in several states.
Melbourne-based solar company Rezeko is helping to establishing solar neighbourhoods in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, ACT and Tasmania. CEO Erik Zimmerman says there are now well over 100 solar communities in Victoria alone.
"The market itself has grown enormously and (bulk buying) has certainly grown in popularity, mostly in the last 12 months," he says.
According to the Federal Government, there has been a significant increase in small-scale solar installations from 365 rebate applications each week at the last Federal Budget to an average of 1,300 applications each week. In the past week alone, 4,000 applications were made.
The Department of Environment's Solar Homes and Communities Plan has received so many applications it is unable to process them in the six-week time frame. Additional staff has been hired to manage the increased demand.
Comments
i love the idea of communities coming together and doing their bit for the planet. Mass purchasing and installation of solar panels is great for the environment, it helps reduce our dependancy on coal, nuclear and other fossil fuels. It helps reduce CO2 emissions and helps stem the tide of global warming. The whole notion of communities banding together is great, more money should be provided to towns and villages to encourage communal and cooperative initiatives.
I suggest people do their research VERY carefully. Some of these Companies with big ads out there saying FREE SOLAR etc arent always what they seem. I WAS a skeptic also. After hearing blanket coverage of this group on Gold Coast radio and TV in recent weeks, I visited the showroom of this COmpany mentioned previously, Beyond Building Energy at West Burleigh. They probably had 10 sales staff and 20 customers in their showroom when I arrived but I was professionally dealt with and only had to wait a few minutes.
They really are FREE - no extra, hidden costs like so many others. They dont charge for double storey or tiled roof for example. Frankly, I cant believe my good fortune and fully understand if they are now the biggest solar group in the country. Nice work.
These offers are finally allowing us to get solar at affordable costs. I had seen one company called Beyond Building Energy advertising a totally free system paid for by the government rebate. Being a skeptic I checked them out and yes the deal is true, This company seem to be the largest player in the solar industry. I have signed up for free and am waiting for my installation. Green deals at no extra cost seem to be here at last.