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:-
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 BSFG
David Blore
Renewable Energy Benalla
An Action Group of BSFG
