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Renewable Energy Benalla Report to BSFG AGM - 25 May 2023

25/5/2023

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Renewable Energy Benalla - Activities in 2022-2023:

Our focus in the past year has included the following areas: -

Ongoing attendance by Kevin Smith of the North East Regional Sustainability Alliance and the North East Community Energy Network meetings.
Kevin also continues to monitor and update the group about the Haystack Solar Garden Project.
23 & 24 May 2022 two members completed the Home Energy Advisor Training provided by Lucinda Flynn funded by Hume Community Power Hub at Indigo Power.
Ongoing, REB and Benalla Community Energy Project (BCEP) looking for more community energy projects such as Munro Avenue Kindergarten on launched on Thursday May 6, 2021, and the Bernard Briggs Kindergarten launched on Friday 25 February 2022. This Included discussions with Men’s Shed about roof top solar.
Meeting, Brad Foletta Solar Gain, Solar Systems and Energy Efficiency Forum for Landlords Tuesday 31 May 2022 7 - 8 PM very well attended.
Meeting, Brad Foletta Solar Gain, Solar Home Information Session for Tenants Tue, 14 June 2022. No registrations from community and meeting cancelled.
March 2023 Renewable Energy Benalla contact point for Goulburn Murray Climate Alliance Solar Bulk Buy Project. GMCA now hiring a 6-month part time Climate Change Project Officer for this project.
Meeting, ‘Thinking about buying an electric vehicle?' - Russell Klose from Kilowatt Cars (Yackandandah) Thursday, 30 March 2023, 17:30 – 21:30 very well attended.
Meeting, BSFG Solar Information Evening - guest speaker Brad Foletta from Solar Gain Thursday, 27 April 2023, 19:30 – 21:30. Very well attended meeting.

Ongoing Activities:

Involvement in regional action and interest groups as above.
Monitoring and reporting on new projects including utility scale proposals such as Lochard Energy’s battery storage and gas generation project at Winton.
Seeking further opportunities for Community Energy Project actions, not restricted to solar installations.
Continuing to publish informative articles on the website and FaceBook pages.
Exploring opportunities for facilitation of home energy assessments.
Responding to and generating new initiatives to support transition to zero net energy.
Monitoring and reporting back to the committee about utility scale renewable energy projects in our region. Via, for example, attendance of members at Loch Ard Community Information Session at the Hub Café on Tue, 4 Apr 2023. The REB website ‘Switch’ page also reports on utility scale projects.

Peter Maddock

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BSFG/REB Community Forum on Solar Panels and Batteries - "A very informative seminar"

3/5/2023

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A very informative seminar was hosted last week by Renewable Energy Benalla (part of BSFG) at the Benalla Uniting Church on solar panel and home battery installations. Brad Foletta, Director of Solargain Wangaratta, spoke on Solargain's experience in solar panels, batteries and solar hot water systems, with around 3000 installations in the North East over the past nine years since Solargain was established. Brad and more than half his staff are Benalla locals, so the company knows the local area intimately.

Brad made mention of noted engineer and thinker, Saul Griffith, and his mantra “Electrify Everything” for combatting the use of fossil fuels for power and addressing climate change, as one of the key drivers for Solargain’s work across our region.

Brad spoke about the current state of solar, developments in output and reliability of solar panels in the last decade or so, and demonstrated the significant cost savings on power bills for households who install panels (especially with the various subsidies available to offset installation costs). He then expanded on the related topic of home batteries. Brad spoke about; adding batteries to an existing system and how this works; the types of systems now available (self-consumption, partial backup, full backup and full off-grid systems); warranties and monitoring, and outlined the subsidies available for home battery installations.

Brad highlighted a couple of key messages to the attentive audience:-

The importance of getting several quotes when considering any work of this nature, and to ensure that your chosen company has a strong local record of customer service and product knowledge.
The time to install panels is right now: waiting may be more expensive in the longer run.
Make sure you take advantage of all available subsidies (our local Member Helen Haines is working now on getting better subsidies for home batteries).
Other electrification possibilities such as heat pumps for hot water, which are available right now and can deliver major savings on power bills.

Brad and his team fielded many questions from the attendees, who appreciated his clear and knowledgeable presentation on a complex topic.

David Blore
Renewable Energy Benalla
An Action Group of Benalla Sustainable Future Group
0407885410

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Renewable Energy Benalla Report to BSFG AGM - 25 May 2023

BSFG/REB Community Forum on Solar Panels and Batteries - "A very informative seminar"

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