The Southern Sydney Region of Councils (SSROC) launched a new initiative on the weekend to help households and small businesses install solar power systems.
Our Solar Future is a joint partnership between eight councils in the region – Ashfield, Bankstown, Canterbury, Canada Bay, Kogarah, Leichhardt, Marrickville and Rockdale.
“Research has shown that the main barriers to installation of solar power and other renewable energy technologies is a lack of knowledge, cost and access to reliable and trustworthy installers,” states the Our Solar Future website.
“We have developed this website to help overcome those barriers by providing you with the basic information you need to get started, as well as a list of experienced and trustworthy suppliers vetted by the Alternative Technology Association of Australia to supply you with quality products and service at a discounted price.”
One of the key partners in Our Solar Future is Positive Charge; which has been a driving force behind innovative solar programs in Victoria.
Positive Charge brings with it national solar provider Energy Matters, a SunEdison company; the world’s largest renewable energy developer.
Energy Matters has previously worked with the group to deliver bulk buy solar programs in several Melbourne metropolitan council areas, including Moreland City Council. The company also collaborated with Positive Charge on the award-winning Solar $aver program; an initiative saving hundreds of pensioners in the Darebin City Council area on their power bills through installing solar at no up-front cost.
“The existing partnership is a proven success and Positive Charge has every confidence in the SunEdison company to work collaboratively with the SSROC communities, ensuring the best outcomes for all,” said part of a statement from Positive Charge.
As well as solar panel systems, the Our Solar Future site provides information on solar hot water and heat pumps, plus general energy efficiency information.
Our Solar Future’s goal is to boost the number of houses with either solar panels or solar hot water within the various council areas to at least the New South Wales average of 14%, about another 3,000 households. Our Solar Future is the first project in the Southern Sydney Renewable Energy Master Plan, the vision of which is to see up to 30% of the region’s energy needs being provided though renewable sources.
