Welcome to the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia’s solar capital

ONE of our greyest areas is also one of our greenest, as retirees rush to install solar panels and beat power price rises.

The Fleurieu Peninsula is the South Australia’s solar capital. Almost a third of all homes (31 per cent) in Port Elliot have panels. In Victor Harbor, Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island it’s almost a quarter (24 per cent). That’s almost 4000 homes with solar panels.

And the pace of installations has not slowed, with as many as 12 going in each day.

Victor Harbor Council has been instrumental in the conversion, arranging group discounts with Zen Home Energy.

In 2009, City of Victor Harbor’s Roy Ramage warned the council traditional energy suppliers would “double and treble power costs over the next three years”. He also predicted more costs would be passed on to ratepayers when emission trading schemes were introduced.

 He proposed an alternative, renewable energy in the form of solar power.

The scheme has spread right across the Fleurieu Peninsula because Victor Harbor encouraged neighbouring councils to get in on the deal.

“I’m hoping it makes my little community more resilient,” he said. “I know they have more money in their pockets now.”

At Rosetta Village, in Encounter Bay, retired couple Rosemary Horst, 68, and husband Kuske, 72, were among residents who challenged village management in court and won the right to install solar panels.

“We all should have rainwater tanks and solar panels,” Mrs Horst said.

The Author

Darryn Van Hout

I developed an interest in the Australian energy and construction sectors more than a decade ago and have since closely followed the trends, technologies and developments shaping both industries. My involvement in the Australian solar market began in 2008, and over the years I have built strong connections with professionals, businesses and organisations across the construction, solar and renewable energy sectors in Australia and internationally. These connections include solar panel and inverter manufacturers, electrical and construction industry professionals, software developers creating tools to quote, monitor and manage solar power systems, and media organisations that closely follow developments across energy, construction and renewable technologies. Today, I continue to contribute as an industry advocate, author and commentator, sharing practical insights and information to help Australian consumers and businesses better understand solar power, energy technologies, construction-related developments and the changing Australian energy landscape.