Information night on plan for home solar panels

Ballarat Courier
Monday 21/4/2008 Page: 5

A MEETING to explain a solar panel scheme will be held in Ballarat on Wednesday. The "Ballarat Solar Neighbourhood" scheme, run by a company called Beyond Building Energy, aims to make photovoltaic panels more affordable for Ballarat householders. BBE spokesman Erik Zimmerman will make a presentation to members of the Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions group and any other interested Ballarat residents. More than 140 people attended an information night late last year, and within a week of the scheme opening to expressions of interest, more than 100 residents signed up. Mr Zimmerman said the response in Ballarat was unprecedented.

BREAZE president Nick Lanyon said the enthusiasm shown for the scheme was "reminiscent of an Internet based Myer Boxing Day sale." "BREAZE knew that people would be keen to hear about the scheme, but we frankly didn't anticipate the size of the stampede," Mr Lanyon said. "What it goes to show is that ordinary Jill and Joe Blows in Ballarat are wanting to do what they can to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that their hones are responsible for. They're impatient to take positive, practical action to protect our future climate." The scheme involves the installation of a one kilowatt solar array and an inverter which allows surplus power to be fed into the grid.

Over a year a one kilowatt array would generate a quarter to one-third of the power consumed by an average household. "And should the Victorian Government see through on their pre-election promise to create a feed-in tariff for renewable electricity generation, people with solar panels will reap even greater financial benefits," Mr Lanyon said. The information night at the Cooinda Centre in Learmonth Rd, Wendouree, would feature news on Smart Meter technology, the possibility of further Ballarat Solar Neighbourhoods and presentations from City of Ballarat heritage advisers and town planners on the installation of solar panels and solar hot water systems in heritage areas.

The presentations start at 7.30pm.