Councils drive a solar retro-fit

Adelaide Advertiser
Thursday 23/4/2009 Page: 51

Norwood-based solar company ZEN Home Energy Systems has won the state's first council-driven tender to install discounted solar panels on homes in the Fleurieu Peninsula and Barossa regions. Under the Community Purchase of Renewable Energy Program (C-PREP) initiated by the Victor Harbor Council, ZEN will retro-fit premises in the council regions of Victor Harbor, Alexandrina, Yankalilla and Kangaroo Islandand in the Fleurieu Peninsula region, creating 30 to 40 jobs.

The councils voted this week to award the tender to ZEN. They are encouraging local households and companies to register for the program, which will enable households eligible for the government rebate (and which sign up before June 30, 2009) to buy an entry-level 1kW solar system for just $1995, fully installed. ZEN hopes to install a "couple of thousand" panels in the regions, with the Fleurieu and Barossa regions covering more than 40.000 homes.

Council representatives stepped in to cut the deal for the householders for a registration fee of $75 by offering the supplier a bulk deal in return for a rebate discount on the systems. The registration money will be transferred to establish an R&D fund with ZEN and an SA University, which would look at developing a solar/ wind prototype energy plant. "Our company has won similar work with councils in the eastern states of Australia. but this is the biggest by far," ZEN chief executive Richard Turner said.

ZEN was selected on its ability to provide a high quality system with a significant bulk purchase discount, create local jobs and participate in an R&D program, Victor Harbor Mayor Mary Lou Corcoran said. "We're looking to realise the reduction of our carbon footprint right across the peninsula and will be measuring each installation and reporting it to both state and federal governments," Ms Corcoran said.