Community solar program boost renewables in the regions

Happy woman and man hold up solar panel (community solar)
Image: RACV Solar

Geelong Sustainability, RACV Solar and Mondo have celebrated the success of the Geelong Community Solar Program, which will see 2.5MWs of renewable energy capacity installed across the Shires of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Colac Otway, Golden Plains and the Borough of Queenscliffe.

The program is a Geelong Sustainability initiative, delivered by RACV Solar and Mondo and was open to homes and businesses across the region.

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As part of the program, RACV Solar is donating 250 solar panels across eight community sites in the Geelong region that were nominated by local residents and community groups and endorsed by Geelong Sustainability.

The sites receiving the RACV Solar 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.

In addition to making a meaningful contribution to Victoria’s target of generating 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, it’s estimated the 2.5MW being added to the grid will save more than 2000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year—with the capacity to power around 700 homes1.

RACV Solar CEO Andy McCarthy said the program, strongly supported by local councils and community groups, was an example of the significant role solar power can play in a cleaner energy future.

“We’re so pleased with the uptake in the Geelong Community Solar Program—it is a testament to the forward-thinking communities in this region,” McCarthy said.

“Geelong Sustainability set an ambitious target of installing 2.5MW 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.

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“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.”

To support the Geelong Community Solar Program and the community donations, Mondo contributed its community energy management system, Ubi. It is a smart controller that collects and analyses data from devices and control circuits enabling the tenants unprecedented control over how electricity from their solar and battery system is used.

https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/watts-watt-a-guide-to-renewable-energy-capacity-and-generation/

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