Yarra Ranges Community Solar Rollout Continues

Victoria’s Yarra Ranges Council is forging ahead with solar installations on a bunch of community buildings across its region.

The Yarra Ranges local government area is situated on Melbourne’s eastern fringe. Covering approximately 2,500 square kilometres, it’s home to around 150,000 people living in towns and suburbs including Lilydale, Chirnside Park, Mooroolbark and Kilsyth.

Council has been using solar power to slash its own emissions and energy costs – but also helping local community organisations do the same, with close to 4,000 solar panels installed on more than 50 public and community facilities to date.

There’s more to come with installations on Men’s Sheds in Mooroolbark and Yarra Glen, on the Warburton Waterwheel visitor centre, CIRE community school and Golden Wattle Club currently under way.

Also in the pipeline are solar + battery systems for Yarra Junction Bowling Club and Warburton’s Koha Café. Koha Community Cafe is a community based project providing low-cost nutritious meals to the community; focusing on those who are economically and socially disadvantaged.

“By installing solar panels on Men’s Sheds and other community facilities, we’ll be able to help take some strain away by reducing energy bills, meaning groups can make sure their budget goes to their work, their materials and helping others – instead of to keeping the lights on,” said Yarra Ranges Mayor, Jim Child.

Mayor Child said the panels being used on the Men’s Sheds have come from buildings part of the Civic Centre Redevelopment in Lilydale that are still in good working order and with plenty of years of service life ahead.

Looking further ahead, energy audits are to be carried out at 19 community facilities with view to improving energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.

Solar Power’s Role In Yarra Ranges’ Liveable Climate Plan

The community solar energy projects align with Council’s Liveable Climate Plan, the major goals of which are:

• 100% renewable energy use in Council services and infrastructure from 2030
• Net zero on Council operational spend on electricity by 2040
• Net zero emissions by 2040.

Among actions in the Plan is expanding on-site solar and battery storage, and constructing solar farms on closed landfill sites; generating renewable power for council operations. Council is also aspiring to transform its entire vehicle fleet to zero emissions technology by 2030.

While Council has recognised the threat posed by climate change for many years, in 2019 it declared a climate emergency requiring urgent action by all levels of government.

Taking action on its emissions through various strategies has also provided significant financial benefit.

“Not only has this work resulted in a significant drop in our carbon emissions as an organisation, but our electricity bills are currently about $1 million lower a year than if we hadn’t made the switch to upgrading our equipment and generating our own renewable energy,” states Council.

Across the LGA, thousands of households and businesses have had solar panels installed; also benefiting from the emissions reduction and power bill savings rooftop PV brings.