Tag Archives: Community energy project

Community Funded Solar Project in WA

Transition Town Guildford and its members have been fund raising for Citizen’s Own Renewable Energy Network Australia (CORENA) for over a year now, collectively contributing over $1,100 towards various projects during this time.

We were very excited to learn that CORENA’s next project is in WA: the Nannup Community Resource Centre is next in line for a 10kW solar PV system, and it won’t cost them a cent. TT Guildford has already chipped in towards this project, including $50 raised at our monthly movie night this week. We invite you to chip in too, which you can do here.

Nannup

CORENA (Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia Inc.) provides interest-free loans of up to $20,000 to pay for community projects consisting of solar PV installations and energy efficiency measures for non-profit organisations. Recipient organisations pay back the loan just out of the resultant savings on their power bills, generally within 5 years. After that, the organisation continues to enjoy lower power bills for another 20-25 years, meaning more of their funds will be available to spend on valued community services.

Loan repayments from CORENA’s first 4 projects help to fund the Nannup solar PV installation, and the rest of the funds will be sourced from donations from people all over Australia, not just the Nannup area. TT Guildford is proud to be a contributor. Loan repayments from the Nannup CRC project will feed back into CORENA’s revolving funding pool to help fund future Quick Win solar projects. Once around 20 community funded solar projects have been completed, the funds in the revolving pool will be sufficient to continue funding one new project every month, forever, without needing any more donations.

CORENA is a non-profit organisation run entirely by volunteers. CORENA has raised over $57,000 to provide interest-free loans for solar power to non-profit community organisations in all parts of Australia. Over 40kW of solar PV capacity have already been installed, saving each of the respective community organisations thousands of dollars that are now available to serve the local community. Nannup CRC is CORENA’s 5th project.

We invite you to join us in chiping in to help fund the Nannup solar project. This will greatly reduce carbon emissions, not just for Nannup CRC but also for other non-profit organisations as your contribution revolves forward to help fund future CORENA projects, and that is something that benefits everyone.  For more details and to chip in, see http://corenafund.org.au/quick-win-projects/

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Guildford Energy launch success

Guildford Energy launch

On Tuesday night, 45 people met at the Stirling Arms Hotel to hear about Guildford Energy and discuss the project.

GE launch2

Co-founder Rod Mitchell outlined similar very successful projects around the world (e.g. Brixton Energy) and several currently starting in Eastern Australia (e.g. Solar Share Canberra) . Dr Bernhard Mitchell then outlined the recent dramatic cost reductions in solar photovoltaics (PV) and the many reasons why solar is the way to go. The final presentation was by Dr Emily Mitchell who ran through the initial model for Guildford Energy in more detail (outlined below).

Initial proposed model for Guildford Energy.

Initial proposed model for Guildford Energy.

Finally, the most important part of the evening was to hear what everyone in the community thought! There were lots of questions, queries and clarification from the audience and the night finished with a co-design session in which people answered 10 questions on what they think about the project and see as the potential challenges and benefits. All these responses collected on post-it notes will be collated and we look forward to presenting the results at out next public meeting in a month or two.

Guildford Energy crowd  eager with questions and ideas

Guildford Energy crowd eager with questions and ideas

In the meantime, if you’d like to stay up to date and register your interest, please join our Mailing List and Like the Guildford Energy Facebook page.

Midland Reporter article 25th March 2014

Midland Reporter article 25th March 2014

Members of the Guildford Energy initiating team: Ben, Ash, Emily, Peter, Jenny, Bernhard & Rod

Members of the Guildford Energy initiating team: Ben, Ash, Emily, Peter, Jenny, Bernhard & Rod

 

Guildford Energy Launch & Community Discussion

Guildford Energy Logo

Please join us for the launch and community discussion about Guildford Energy – the first community owned solar initiative in Perth.

Come hear about community energy projects in Australia and overseas.

What Guildford Energy is about, and our initial thoughts – could Guildford and surrounds go solar?

Share your ideas and tell us what you’re interested in?

Find out how you can be involved….investor, business, organiser?

Join us on Tuesday the 25th of March, 7 – 8:30 pm at The Stirling Arms Hotel function room (117 James street, Guildford).

Please RSVP via eventbrite and Like the Facebook page

Any questions to GuildfordEnergy@gmail.com

Come and help build the future of Guildford’s Energy!

Guildford Energy Flyer