solar PV bulk-buy update

[Mark Gerrard]

Greetings,

 

At the last Sustainable Maleny meeting there was a general introduction to the idea of forming a buying group for grid-tie solar PV systems. Five people expressed interest in developing the idea further. Some of these people are in the ballot for the 1000 subsidised systems from the Qld. gov - it seems the lucky participants in this scheme will be decided in the next month or so.

 

There's a lot of changes happening at the moment in the renewable energy scene with both State & Federal govs being forced to implement rebates or feed-in tariffs for grid-tie systems. With the Garnaut report indicating massive changes to our future energy production and the Federal budget coming up next month I expect even more changes on the horizon.

 

The next step in our proposed buying group scheme is to take it outside our group and start holding public meetings in order to educate the wider community on the benefits of going solar. This is a fairly major step and one I'm a bit reluctant to take until at least the May budget is released and we're more certain of the costs involved.

 

There's an interesting article here http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/beating-the-sunshine-shonks/2008/04/04/1207249460489.html talking about dodgy PV panels coming in from China. The buying group Beyond Building Energy in Byron Bay that had the 1 kW systems for $499 are maxed out with orders & you now have to put $8899 upfront (you get $8000 back after installation) & still have a group of 50. I would say they're probably using Chinese panels (and not saying that they wouldn't be any good, just that we need to be careful).

 

If anybody has any comments or suggestions then please let me know.

 

Cheers Mark

[russell gibbard]

Hi Mark
 
I think that holding public meetings in order to educate the wider community on the benefits of going solar is a good move. Also this may be an opportunity to talk about energy efficiency and house hold energy auditing. I would like to help the group in holding public meetings.
 
Russell Gibbard 

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From: ma...@aryadeva.net
To: sm-e...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [sm-energy] solar PV bulk-buy update
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2008 12:27:07 +1000

[Tony Ullman]

Hi Mark,

 

I don't have anything else to add, just let me know if you would like any input from me.

 

Tony Ullman

----- Original Message -----

From: Mark Gerrard

To: sm-energy

Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 12:27 PM

Subject: [sm-energy] solar PV bulk-buy update

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[Bernie Dwyer]

My installer remarked on these - it seems that you have to be very careful with the cheap imported panels - many of them are NOT certified to be connected to Australian electricity grids - apparently some folks with these panels have been audited (part of the subsidy conditions are that you have to agree to let the system/s be inspected) and have been ordered to disconnect their systems from the grid.

 

Also, some people who've paid upfront are still waiting for delivery some months later.

 

cheers

Bernie Dwyer
***********************

[Paul Williamson]

ATA Brisbane branch meeting

When: Thursday 22nd May
Time: 7pm
Where: Albion Peace Centre, 102 McDonald Rd, Windsor
Cost: $3
RSVP required: James Harvey - jha...@austethical.com.au

20 Tonnes of Solar Panels for fun and non-profit

Local Power is a not-for-profit community-based bulk buy project delivering 200kW of photovoltaic solar onto Brisbane rooftops. After nine months of dreaming, preparation and volunteer effort, 150 people signed up and 40 homes have been installed in the first four weeks.

Come and hear the story of what goes on behind the website, emails and answering service, to see how this community-based project has been setup and run.

localpower.net.au