CHRIS Weir admits his vision of a Bendigo fully powered by renewable energy within the decade will be a challenge.
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But the head of Bendigo Sustainability Group (BSG) insists disruptive battery-storage technology, nearby wind projects and the city’s solar panel installation rates – among the highest in the state – mean it is achievable.
“It is an ambitious task – but we think the real leaps in technology we are seeing will make it possible,” he said.
Mr Weir pointed to figures released by the Climate Council which shows 14.2 per cent of households in the Bendigo electorate have installed a solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This is above the national average of 12.8 per cent and significantly higher than the Victorian state average of 8.9 per cent.
It bodes well for a full switch to renewable energy, Mr Weir said, adding that – though they were important – the main determinant of a region’s uptake of solar was neither government investment nor private enterprise.
“It’s the community,” he said.
“The community is the reason Bendigo is among the leading areas in the state [for PV installation] – we have a lot of passionate people in the environment and sustainability space.”
Mr Weir said community initiative had driven successful PV bulk buy programs – such as Goldfields Solar –and attracted government support.
BSG will run two Goldfields Solar information sessions this Thursday at the Discovery Centre, one from 4.30pm and the other 7pm.
On Saturday, the centre will host another forum, ‘Repower: Considering Renewable Energy,’ to help inform the City of Greater Bendigo’s new Environment Strategy. From 12.30pm through 4pm residents are invited to learn about renewable energy including solar, battery, storage, wind power, community-owned solar and more.
The day will include a demonstration of a Tesla electric car – powered by a battery which Mr Weir said had been a game changer since it was released earlier this year.
The breakthrough came shortly before the state’s Essential Services Commission announced it would slash the credit households received from pumping power back into the grid next year.
“It has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons by virtually halving existing market prices,” he said.
“Now they can do stuff after the sun goes down.”