Join solar bulk buy

By Kristen McDonald, of Electrify 2515

Did you catch ABC’s Australian Story? The first episode of 2023 featured Austinmer’s Dr Saul Griffith, as well as Electrify 2515 volunteers! Missed it? Watch on ABC iview. This year we will be applying for the NSW Government’s electrification pilot and our funding application to the federal government body ARENA is progressing. Here’s a brief update on that application: We hope to hear more in April or so. There are 3 possible outcomes:

Outcome 1: A substantial amount of funding to run the optimal pilot. This would allow us to offer subsidies for appliances (eg. air conditioners, cooktops etc), including some batteries and EVs, to a large number of homes and businesses including low-income homes. We’d also test new technologies like Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS).

Outcome 2: A smaller amount of funding. We would reconfigure our plan to either include a smaller amount of homes/ businesses, smaller subsidies and/or less items. It is unlikely to include bigger ticket items such as EVs and batteries.

Outcome 3: No funding. Then we will organise group activities such as bulk buys of solar panels, heat pumps and/or EVs. We are also working with:

• Council to encourage them to improve EV charging infrastructure and community rooftop solar (council is asking for public feedback on its draft EV infrastructure policy, please do so on their website);

• Rewiring Australia and businesses to develop education resources to guide homes on electrification journeys;

• Finance institutions to look at packages that help the uptake of electric items;

• Endeavour Energy to investigate pole-mounted batteries and localised tariffs to reduce energy costs in the area;

• Community, social and property groups to find the best ways to include renters, strata properties and low-income households, plus how to roll a similar project out in other communities.

Firstly, we’re organising a solar bulk buy. Email electrify2515@gmail.com if you are interested in installing or expanding a solar system with a vetted local supplier. More info: electrify2515.org