The Ocean Grove Community Association (OGCA) provides a forum for residents and ratepayers and covers a wide range of topics including environmental concerns. It was clear to the Committee that many members wanted to do something about climate change, particularly reducing their emissions.

Helping people install solar PV systems on their rooftops was a popular idea and is the most accessible source of renewable energy for residents.

The project was led by OGCA committee member Suzie Brown, who is also the founder of Australian Parents for Climate Action, AP4CA. With help from 100% Clean Bellarine, OGCA conducted several community forums in early 2020 to inform people of the opportunity and collate expressions of interest.

With only about 16% of households in Ocean Gove with rooftop solar, community interest was ‘through the roof’ and more than 600 people attended across the four community forums.

The group had previously put a request for tender to the market for a local provider to implement the project. The selected provider, a partnership between Mondo and City to Surf Solar, then worked with each individual resident to tailor a solar PV system /battery that best suited their energy needs and budget and then install the systems.

The aim of the bulk buy project was to make it easier for people to participate, as many are overwhelmed by the array of providers and products in the market and variability in price, size and quality. It worked - 67 systems were installed, with 347kW of solar PV and 104kW of battery storage.

The OGCA and 100% Clean Bellarine were able to provide trusted local organisations – supported by skilled community members – to make the project a success.

Call to Action

Keeping it simple and collaboration is the key. The answers are out there, we need to work together to make it easier for people to be part of the solution.

IMAGE: Members of the Ocean Grove Community Association 2019