A solar energy enthusiast with a big idea is hoping he can find a landlord in the Illawarra to join his scheme, which aims to help out the almost one-third of the region’s residents who are “locked out” of cheaper and more sustainable power from the sun.
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The latest estimate from solar advocates the Australian Photovoltaic Institute (API) puts the rate of Wollongong residents who can’t access solar power at 31 per cent.
They are among 2.6 million people in NSW who can’t access solar, an analysis of Census data shows.
Most of these are “locked out” because they rent their home or unit and must accept the energy source the landlord has in place.
But Bjorn Sturmberg’s company SunTenants has a plan to fix this: work with landlords to install solar panels, and then the company retains ownership of the panels, while passing on the energy savings.
“SunTenants pays landlords for every solar panel they install and charges tenants a discounted rate for the solar power they use,” Dr Sturmberg said.
“This generates attractive returns for landlords while saving tenants hundreds of dollars a year on their power bills.
“With electricity prices skyrocketing, SunTenants creates a desperately needed win-win for landlords and tenants.”
API chairwoman Renate Egan said about a third of NSW residents were unable to take control of their power bills by getting solar.
“We live in the sunniest country in the world, and the cost of installing solar is falling through the floor making it one of the cheapest ways to power our homes,” Dr Egan said.
“Many Australians have taken advantage of this over the years, with 1.67 million households now with solar, but many more Australians who would like to do the same simply can’t.”
She said over the past decade electricity prices have risen by 60 to 90 per cent above inflation, while the cost of installing a 3KW solar system had dropped 90 per cent.
Earlier this year Dr Sturmberg was awarded the Myer Innovation Fellowship at the University of Sydney for his SunTenants work.
SunTenants has just launched its website and is seeking landlords to set up five trial sites across the greater Sydney area.
Landlords and property owners who might be interested in joining the SunTenants scheme are encouraged to seek further information and apply via the website www.suntenants.com