Elsie Lange
Macedon Ranges Solar Power has been busier than ever before, as more locals turn to renewable technologies amid the skyrocketing cost of energy.
Phone enquiries to Solar Victoria’s $1.3 billion Solar Homes Program – where Victorians can claim rebates from the government for installing renewable technologies – were 45 per cent higher than the yearly average.
The demand for solar batteries increased too – with Solar Victoria data showing a doubling of approved battery applications this financial year compared to the last.
Luke Lalford, owner of Macedon Ranges Solar Power, said he’d seen the huge increase in demand for solar technology first hand, and believed anxiety about energy prices were likely responsible.
“We would receive between 60 and 70 enquiries a month, on average. I would say that has more than tripled in the last four weeks,” Mr Lalford said.
“There’s a sense of urgency surrounding having a solution for the rising costs of electricity.
“Our customers are concerned that electricity is going to become unaffordable.”
Mr Lalford said the government’s rebates for renewable technology were an important part of the uptake of solar power across the board, and he hoped to see it continue.
“I think it would make solar power unaffordable for some people, and the people who can afford it can get it, but they’re not the people who necessarily need it either,” Mr Lalford said.
Since 2018, about 205,000 Victorians have benefited from the government’s Solar Homes program, and the government expects the recent uptick in rebates queries and applications to lead to a growth in installations over the winter months.
The solar installer said it was heartening to see neighbouring local councils get involved with initiatives like the Solar Savers program. In Hepburn shire, some households can install solar with no upfront costs and pay for their new system over eight years through their rates.
He said he would like to see the program taken up by Macedon Ranges council – but council said after participating in a pilot version of the program in 2017 without much uptake, they’d decided to abandon it.
Council planning and environment director Rebecca Stockfeld said it was a “strong supporter” of sustainable practices and continued to assist residents in achieving better household energy efficiency.
“Residents can access information about solar options through council supported organisations such as More Australian Solar Homes (MASH) a non-for-profit community solar bulk-buy program, and government rebates via council’s website,” she said.
Mr Lalford said solar was “in the forefront of peoples’ minds” when they build new homes.
“We’re seeing a lot more of that now, when people are building a new home they basically want solar on as part of the build,” he said.
