HEATHCOTE Health wants to install enough solar panels on its roof to slice electricity costs by 25 per cent.
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The 234 panels will provide 89 kilowatts of power during peak operation, according to a planning application lodged with the City of Greater Bendigo this week.
The project could save 131 tonnes of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide according to the state government, which loaned Heathcote Health $111,000 for the panels.
That money needs to be repaid within five years.
It is part of the state government's $2.7 million regional health solar program, which aims to install solar photovoltaic arrays at 75 hospitals across Victoria.
"The program is estimated to reduce annual carbon emissions by more than 13,000 tonnes, and to generate up to 30 per cent of energy required by some regional hospitals," a spokesperson for health minister Jenny Mikakos said.
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The program is estimated to reduce annual aggregate electricity expenditure at the 75 hospitals by around $2.7 million once panels are installed and the loans are repaid.
All up, the panels will generate around 9.1 megawatt-peak of solar photovaic arrays.
Other hospitals in the region to take part include Charlton's, Daylesford's, Inglewood's, Kyneton's, Mount Alexander's and St Arnaud's.
Echuca's ambulance station has had arrays capable of replacing 10 kilowatts of power.