1
Murchison Goes Solar

• An initiative of the
• Murchison Action Group
• sub-committee co-convenors
• Geoff Lodge Yvonne Forrest
• Supported by COGS
• assisted by the Solar Champions
• Colin James, Rob French, Sandra Vazzoler, Karen
  Brisbane, Jan Dunlop, John Laing, Des Whitfield,
  David Black, Terry Court Marty Morris

2
Project Objectives

• Phase 1
• To raise community awareness of climate change
  and implement practical solutions to reduce
  carbon emissions
• Establish a pilot Sustainable Energy Buyers Group
  for bulk purchase discounts of photovoltaic solar
  panels
• Phase 2
• Investigate the cost effectiveness of other
  discounted renewable energy products (as
  determined by a project team) purchase as
  required

3
A grid connected PV solar system
4
Solar Power Components
PV solar panels
Inverters
5
Solar Homes Communities PlanGovernment Rebates
(Dept. of Environment Water Heritage the Arts)

• Residential Rebate scheme
• Household annual taxable income below 100,000
  may be eligible for a up to 8,000
• PV system must be designed and installed at the
  principal place of residence
• NEW SYSTEM Up to 1 kW _at_ 8/w up to 1,000w
  (8,000 rebate)
• UPGRADE EXISTING SYSTEM Current PV systems can
  be upgraded to a max. size of 2kW _at_ 5/w up to
  1,000w (5,000 rebate)
• STAND ALONE SYSTEM Those eligible for Renewable
  Remote Power Generation Program are not eligible
  for the Residential Rebate scheme
• Community Buildings scheme
• A competitive scheme with an educational element
• 50 rebate for the cost of a 2 kW PV system
• Larger PV systems allowed although component not
  funded
• Schools eligible through the National Solar
  Schools plan (50,000)

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Solar Homes Communities PlanGovernment Rebates
(Dept. of Environment Water Heritage the Arts)

• General Conditions
• Designer and installer must be accredited with
  Australian Business Council for Sustainable
  Energy
• General Comments
• The Residential Rebate Scheme will accept 6,000
  residential systems

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Photovoltaic Panel system

• Indicative cost of a 1kW Photovoltaic (PV) solar
  panel system grid connected with a 1kW
  converter
• 13,500
• Less
• group discount 2,000
• government rebate 8,000
• Renewable Energy Certificate 1,000
• Out of pocket expense 2,500
• Serviceable life
• PV Panels typically have a 25 year (warranty)
• Inverters have a 5 year warranty serviceable
  life of approx 12 years

8
How much power does a 1kW system produce?

• 1kW system in Northern Victoria will produce
  approximately
• 4-5 kW/day
• 1,750 kW/year
• 280/yr reduction on power bill (_at_0.16/kW)
• Victorian feed-in tariff pricing
• 0.60/kW nett (ie surplus to household use). To
  be resolved in October 2008 for implementation
  1st January 2009.
• Not all power distributors accept a feed-in
  tariff (Origin does)
• Payback period approx. 9 years (assume cash
  payment/fixed power price)

9
Where to from here?

• Expression of Interest to proceed with project
  investigations (tonight)
• Establish project team (tonight)
• Revise project name/seek further funding/project
  governance/review timeframes (scheduled for 8th
  Oct)
• Develop specifications for EOI quotes (5 weeks)
• Invite EOI select preferred supplier (4 weeks)
• Hold public meeting with selected supplier
  invite sign up (early Dec 2008)

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• Sustainable House Open Day
• 360 Willow Road Murchison
• Saturday 20 Sunday 21 Sept 10am-3pm
• For more information contact
• Karen Brisbane 0407 867 318
• ____________________
• Website for more information on solar rebates
• http//www.sustainability.vic.gov.au
• http//www.environment.gov.au