Wollongong and Shellharbour residents are jumping at the chance to get into solar energy en masse, with an innovative new collective purchase strategy making panels and batteries more affordable.
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National solar facilitators SunCrowd have teamed up with Wollongong-based group Green Connect to hold the bulk-buy launch event next week in Figtree.
At last count 389 people had signed up for the event, which will be at the Figtree Anglican Church auditorium on Tuesday, November 22.
Similar events have recently been held in Mittagong, Bomaderry and Ulladulla. July’s event in Newcastle had 193 households sign up, buying almost 1000 panels and 200 batteries.
At the Figtree launch, people will be able to get information on solar options, meet installers and manufacturers, join up with a “solar mentor” to help with decisions, and access bulk discounts on purchases. But interested people need to actually be there on the night.
Green Connect General Manager Jess Moore said this was a way that the community could lead the move to renewable energy by signing up in large groups.
“We want to connect people to the information, support and pricing that can help make solar possible,” she said.
“It’s for those who want to go solar, as well as those with solar facing the end of the feed-in-tariff, who want to add storage to their system.
“We can have an energy system that’s sustainable; that doesn’t compromise our land and water. This is about people across our community creating this together.”
It’s for those who want to go solar, as well as those with solar facing the end of the feed-in-tariff, who want to add storage to their system
- Jess Moore, GreenConnect
Ms Moore said the scheme also gives money back to the local community.
For every solar sign-up in Wollongong or Shellharbour, $140 will go to Green Connect, a community group set up to create jobs and “urban sustainability” by recovering waste and growing food at its Warrawong High School farm, while employing refugees and young people.
The SunCrowd event is at the Anglican Church Auditorium, 4 Gibsons Rd, Figtree, from 6-8pm on Tuesday, November 22.
People wanting to attend need to register first by using the RSVP function for the Wollongong event via the suncrowd.com.au website.
