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Sunraysia solar innovation takes another step forward

Posted on December 16, 2011

SUNRAYSIA took another step towards better harnessing the massive amount of sunshine that bathes the district each year with the official launch of the Mildura Region Solar Hubs project this week.

TALKING SOLAR: Mildura Rural City Council Mayor John Arnold said Council was committed to using solar technology on its buildings.

Led by Mildura Development Corporation, the project aims to install 785 kilowatts of rooftop solar photovoltaic panels in the region in the current financial year.

If it achieves those aims, the project will offset about 56,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide during the next 20 years.

MDC recently announced Sunraysia-based company Mildura Solar as the project’s preferred supplier of solar panels after six months of research in the solar industry, both locally and nationally.

Mildura Development Corporation, in partnership with Sunraysia Institute of TAFE, Mildura Rural City Council, Sunraysia Sustainability Network and the National Centre for Sustainability has come up solar panel packages specifically tailored for Sunraysia residents.

The packages include all government grants, 10-year full manufacturer’s warranties on panels, an optional 20 year warranty on inverters and a five-year installation warranty.

Mildura Mayor John Arnold said Council would install 50 kilowatts of solar panels on its buildings, perhaps starting with the Deakin Avenue and Madden Avenue headquarters.

Cr Arnold said his visits to China illustrated that other parts of the world have embraced the technology, pointing out thousands of homes in the regions he visited were fitted with solar panels.

Sunraysia is perfectly placed to take advantage of solar energy, boasting more sunshine hours than the Gold Coast and hotter temperatures than the rest of Victoria.

Through the Mildura Region Solar Hubs project, Sunraysia residents will be able to get more information about the technology, help with installation and more affordable solar panels.

Attendees at this week’s launch were told that in most cases the new generation of solar panels offered as part o the Mildura Region Solar Hubs project would pay for themselves in about 10 years in energy savings.

Local residents can get a quote on solar technology for their homes from Solar Hubs project officer, Tim Brand, based at the Mildura Development Corporation on 5022 0722 or by emailing tim@milduraregion.com.au.

For more information visit www.milduraregionsolarhubs.com.au.

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