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As you are no doubt aware, there is a positive and powerful transition unfolding across the Australian electricity sector as more people invest in solar panels on their homes and businesses. Renewable Energy Benalla is encouraging this transition locally alongside a vibrant renewable energy sector.
Renewable Energy Benalla (REB) was formed with the specific intent to help Benalla transition to a low-carbon future. REB has worked closely with many local people and with the support of Beyond Zero Emissions, a not-for-profit carbon reduction agency, to develop a strategy for Benalla to transition to 100% renewable energy over the next 10 years. Across Benalla Rural City 21% of Benalla properties are already experiencing the great benefits of renewable energy, which include;
A wide range of solar systems are available on the market and it is extremely important to scrutinize the quality, performance and durability of various technologies and brands. REB have been partnering with energy market experts, Mondo Power to offer a solar and battery package to encourage more people to join this transition to clean renewable energy. This revised offer from Mondo Power has a pricing structure which includes the Mondo Ubi, a smart energy monitoring and management device which enables the creation of microgrids. The offer is based on high quality solar systems tailored to match the individual needs of Benalla residents, which includes the Ubi and the ability to integrate a battery system. The attachments provide more detail about the Ubi, microgrids and pricing structure. This offer is due to end on the 7th of December, 2018, so please submit your ‘expression of interest’ to have an obligation free site-inspection completed at your home: https://mondopower.com.au/benalla/ A further advantage of this current offer is that it coincides with the Victorian government's Solar Home Program which is aimed at installing solar panels on the roofs of thousands of Victorian homes. This scheme offers a 50% rebate for any solar panel system under 10kW, up to a maximum rebate of $2225. More details can be found at the program's website: www.solar.vic.gov.au REB looks forward to working with the community to help the transition to 100% renewable energy. For more information on how we aim to achieve this please visit our website: www.reb.org.au John Lloyd Convenor Renewable Energy Benalla"
Renewable Energy Benalla is conducting workshops on how to reduce energy bills and increase the thermal comfort of your home. Topics to be covered in session 4 on Wednesday 26 September include
Windows, Hot Water, Heating and Cooling. Windows - poorly performing windows can result in increased energy costs. We will examine some solutions including window coverings, shading, insulating window films, secondary glazing, double glazing and window frames. Hot Water - Water heating is one of the biggest energy users in any home. We will examine efficient hot water system Heating & Cooling - Heating accounts for one third of the average householder's energy bill. Learn about smart, efficient heating options. Workshops will be held from 7pm - 9pm at the Benalla Gliding Club, Samaria Road Benalla. RSVP by 23rd September to Peter Maddock at: peter_maddock@iprimus.com.au. Click here to Download Flyer At the BSFG General Meeting held on August 23, guest speaker from FRV Services, Development Manager Avantika Basu, provided an update on the 85MW AC Winton Solar Farm. This initiative clearly relates to Renewable Energy Benalla's mission to 'Switch 1/3'. The first solar farm to be approved for development in the Winton region, Winton Solar Farm will help to establish a sustainable new industry for the region. Project Developer, FRV Services Australia, is one of the leading solar developers in the country, having now initiated six large-scale solar farms across QLD, NSW, SA and Victoria. Avantika provided an update on the project concept, its development approval and expected social and environmental benefits and answered a range of questions from the audience. Information about the Winton Solar Farm Project can be viewed at the FRV website, http://wintonsolarfarm.com/, and FRV in Australia, http://frv.com/en/tag/australia/. This proved to be an excellent opportunity to hear more about this Solar Farm Project for which it is hoped construction will begin in 2019. Engineer Avantika and her team stayed behind to answer questions and engage with us all about a project about which they are clearly very well informed and passionate. Our third Building Efficiency Workshop will be held on Tuesday August 21st from 7.00pm until 9.00pm at the Gliding Club, Samaria Road Benalla. We are revisiting topics covered in session 2, Lighting, Draught Proofing, and Insulation to provide additional information. Session 3: Tuesday August 21st Energy Efficient Lighting - presentation by lighting expert. Draught Proofing - fixing draughts has a big impact on thermal comfort. Learn about overlooked sources of draughts and effective draught proofing techniques. Insulation - The Key to Thermal Performance. Ceiling insulation, wall insulation, floor insulation. Session 4 will be held on September 26th and cover Windows, Hot Water, Heating and Cooling. Topics including Appliances and Cooking, Energy Monitoring & Control and Solar Power, may be dealt with in a 5th session either later this year or early in 2019. RSVP for Session 3 by Sunday August 19th, Peter 0418 135 330, email peter_maddock@iprimus.com.au. 
Renewable Energy Benalla's John Lloyd attended the Hume Region Renewable Energy Forum on June 13th with Larissa Montgomery. John recommended this video produced on the day which portrays the beginning of a positive and inclusive conversation about how renewable energy rolls out in Hume region.
Following the cancellation of the Tuesday 24 July Session 3 Workshop the remaining schedule is as follows;
Session 3 will now be on Tuesday 21 August at 7.00pm-9.00pm and will provide additional information on Lighting, Draft Proofing and Insulation as we realise that these topics were not dealt with in sufficient detail at the last session. Session 4 will be on Wednesday September 26 from 7.00pm-9.00pm and will provide information on Windows, Hot Water and Heating & Cooling. The remaining topics, Appliances and Cooking, Energy Monitoring & Control and Solar Power, may be dealt with in a 5th session either later this year or early in 2019. Download the workshop flyer. RSVP Sunday before session, Phone/SMS Peter on 0418 135 330 Email, peter_maddock@iprimus.com.au. Or submit details via our Contact Form. Include Session Number in Comments, http://www.reb.org.au/contact.html The workshops are held at the Benalla Gliding Club from 7 until 9 pm
New, renewable energies are changing the way we get our energy. We are no longer reliant entirely on power from the big energy generators and companies.
We need to make sure that communities benefit from the renewable energy. The Community Energy model gives local towns and regions power over how they generate and consume electricity. Join us at a Community Energy Forum on Friday 3rd August at BPACC and find out what community energy means for you and our region. Locally generated renewable energy will create local jobs, cleaner energy and allow the community to control where their energy comes from. It means that towns can create mini-grids, where residents can trade power between themselves – powered by household solar and battery energy. This reduces reliance on the dirty and expensive national energy grid. A local community energy retailer is currently being developed to allow towns and regions to achieve their renewable energy goals. Come along and listen to some of Australia's foremost experts in the field explain how we can harness this new form of energy to build a new model of energy. Three great speakers will outline what community energy is and how we can benefit from it: Simon Corbell, Victorian Renewable Energy Advocate; Nicky Ison, Co-founder of the Community Power Agency; Alison Rowe, Chief Executive Officer of Moreland Energy Foundation. This is a free event but please RSVP for the Benalla meeting by 3 August at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/benalla-community-energy-forum-tickets-47537010478 Download the Forum Flyer. The REB Efficiency Group had its second meeting on Tuesday June 26th at the Benalla Gliding Club. Howard asked us to think about orientation and how this might affect the comfort and efficiency of our homes. The movement of the sun around our homes is very predictable. Ideally the living area is best facing north to allow penetration of winter sun, however eaves will largely exclude the sun in the hot summer when the sun is high in the sky. Sleeping and utility areas are better placed on the south side of the house. The Australian Government website Your Home has an excellent guide to Passive Design, http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design. Peter provided a brief outline of the Energy Freedom Home stepwise process of improving the energy efficiency of your home until eventually it can, after installation of solar panels, become a net exporter of energy. As Peter's home has a northerly facing living area he is investigating better utilising this aspect of the home to make it more comfortable and energy efficient. This could include replacing northerly windows with doors to allow more winter sun access. These doors would then also allow access to an outdoor living area which would become a private area after changes to fencing. He is also considering insulation, draft proofing, and windows. Peter recommended Sustainability Victoria's video, Energy Efficiency at Home. Other useful links with information on improving energy efficiency.
http://energyfreedom.com.au/ http://energyfreedom.com.au/book/ http://energyfreedom.com.au/success-stories/ http://www.yourhome.gov.au/ Indigo Shire Better Build Toolkit https://www.victorianenergysaver.vic.gov.au/ http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/You-and-Your-Home ATA: Free Renter's guide to Sustainable Living https://passivehouseaustralia.org/about-us/ http://passivehouse.com.au/home Note that the third workshop scheduled for Tuesday July 24 has been cancelled. The workshop scheduled for Tuesday August 21 is going ahead and details about the content will be advised before the meeting. There will be a final workshop on Wednesday September 26.
Peter Maddock 0418 135 330 Renewable Energy Benalla has a keen interest in utility scale renewable energy developments and contributes as a community networker by learning about and sharing information about renewable energy proposals. REB recently publicised the Lightsource BP Urbis proposed solar installation at Winton. Information was shared about, and some BSFG members attended, a community information event held by Lightsource BP Urbis on June 13 at Winton Raceway. Kristi Jorgensen and her team from Urbis Lightsource BP welcomed visitors warmly to the community information session, sharing pamphlets, answering questions and listening to community feedback on the proposed solar installation.  Informative posters on display in the room have been made available to REB by Urbis for further information: The following morning REB committee members including John Lloyd and Peter Maddock met with Kristi and members of her team at a breakfast meeting to find out more about the proposal and share a community perspective.
Other resources: Lightsource BP Information Sheets about the Lightsource BP Solar Farm Proposal.  Recently public policy evaluation and consultancy firm URBIS contacted BSFG about a new Mokoan solar farm proposal at Lee Road Winton.
Representing Lightsource BP, Urbis has arranged a Community Information Drop-In Event to be held on Wednesday 13 June 2018 Winton Raceway 41 Fox Street, Winton. Visit the project team any time between 4pm and 7pm. Download information about the meeting. Lightsource BP is a global market leader in the development and long-term management of large-scale solar projects and smart energy solutions. Download information about the Lightsource BP Mokoan Solar Farm Proposal. The REB Efficiency Group had its first meeting on Tuesday May 22nd at the Benalla Gliding Club. This meeting provided a brief overview of the series with an emphasis on reading power meters and understanding power bills. It is considered useful to establish a baseline energy use before people embark on improving the energy efficiency of their homes so that improvements in performance can be measured. Geoff Lodge, CEO and Executive Director of GV Community Energy gave an informative talk on the Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard including some valuable insights on retrofitting. There are three more sessions in the series. Session 2 - Tuesday 26 June - Lighting, Draft Proofing and Insulation. Session 3 - Tuesday 24 July - Windows, Appliances & Cooking and Heating & Cooling. Session 4 - Tuesday 21 August - Hot Water, Energy Monitoring & Control and Solar Power. Information Links on Building Efficiency. http://energyfreedom.com.au/ http://energyfreedom.com.au/book/ http://www.yourhome.gov.au/ Indigo Shire Better Build Toolkit https://www.victorianenergysaver.vic.gov.au/ http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/You-and-Your-Home ATA: Free Renter's guide to Sustainable Living Http://www.reb.org.au/reduce-13.html We encourage you to analyse your power bills to establish your baseline energy use. Full details in REB's 'Wipe Out Gas and Electricity Bills' flyer. A light supper will be available at the end of the evenings. RSVP by the Sunday before a session, Phone Peter 0418 135 330, AH Howard 0409 504 420
 Renewable Energy Benalla's Efficiency Group is conducting a series of workshops commencing Tuesday 22nd of May, from 7.00 until 9.00pm at the Benalla Gliding Club, Samaria Road, Benalla. RSVP Sunday before Session.
Titled “Wipe Out your Gas and Electricity Bills - Come and Find Out How” the series looks at options to improve energy efficiency in our homes. These improvements can increase the comfort of our homes and reduce energy costs. The series commences with an overview of how energy efficiency supports the Renewable Energy Benalla goal of Benalla becoming a Net Zero Stationary Energy City by 2028. Session 1 - Tuesday 22 May: Overview of project. Hear about the new Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard. Major emphasis on reading your meter to establish baseline energy use. Please bring in your power bills. Session 2 - Tuesday 26 June - Lighting, Draft Proofing and Insulation. Session 3 - Tuesday 24 July - Windows, Appliances & Cooking and Heating & Cooling. Session 4 - Tuesday 21 August - Hot Water, Energy Monitoring & Control and Solar Power. We encourage you to bring in your power bills to establish your baseline energy use. Full details in REB's 'Wipe Out Gas and Electricity Bills' flyer. A light supper will be available at the end of the evenings. RSVP by the Sunday before a session - let us know about additional participants phone Peter 0418 135 330, AH Howard 0409 504 420. REB Mondo Power Battery Ready Solar Bulk Buy Offer - Information Session Tuesday 10th April 7.30 pm BPACC Benalla Two information sessions held in April brought approximately 150 residents and business owners to BPACC keen to find out more about the Renewable Energy Benalla and Mondo Power battery ready solar bulk buy offer. The sessions were most informative, there were many thought provoking questions from the floor and some misconceptions cleared up - for example, to be part of a microgrid, it's not necessary to be in a grid organised by/with/for neighbours', a micro grid can apply to diverse participants located in Benalla and surrounds. REB's partnership with Mondo Power to provide a battery ready solar bulk buy offer for residents and businesses is now open. With a closing date of July 31st there is still time to consider the options and express your interest. A good starting point is Mondo Power's 'Benalla Community Energy Project' webpage. You might find the video - 'TRY & the Yack Mini Grid' helpful, as it describes a similar project. REB Mondo Power Battery Ready Solar Bulk Buy Offer - Information Session Sunday 22nd April 2.30 pm BPACC Benalla
If you are considering the Renewable Energy Benalla and Mondo Power's Bulk Buy offer, you may be interested in watching this video, which backgrounds a similar scheme in Yackandandah REB Report to BSFG Meeting, 22nd February, 2018
The BZE-Benalla Transition Strategy document details three major strategies that need to be implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve zero net energy. These strategies are: i) Energy efficiency measures to reduce energy use, ii) Promote and install local roof top solar, iii) Investigate utility scale renewables, battery storage and micro grids. Mondo Power Bulk Buy Offer Mondo Power will be presenting their proposal for a bulk buy of panels, monitoring systems and eventually batteries, and the establishment of microgrids, to the Benalla community in early April. This proposal, if accepted by community members, will lead to increased numbers of PV panels on roofs and has the potential to see the establishment of microgrids in Benalla at a future date. Action Plans Small working groups have started to prepare plans to start on the implementation of the three major strategies mentioned above:
Offer of assistance from solar farm developer FRV Services Australia, a Solar Farm Developer, has approached BSFG/REB to offer assistance. This is part of the community engagement and benefit sharing by renewable energy project developers required by the Victorian government if they wish to be involved in the VRET. Financial support is certainly part of this assistance being offered and there may be other forms of assistance as well. Indi Energy Action Group Cathy McGowan, Federal Member for Indi, has established an Indi Energy Action Group to promote and support community energy groups across the electorate of Indi. Community Energy Retailer Work is being done to investigate the possibility of establishing a community energy retailer in north-east Victoria. The proposed community energy retailer would be a decentralised energy retailer providing a platform for local communities to achieve community energy goals and access locally generated renewable energy. |
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