Renewable Energy Project: Solar Panels, Kulin Nation
Beechworth Montessori School, a non-profit school in northern Victoria, has a sustainable focus. It occupies a repurposed building furnished with recycled items, and has a vegetable garden, composting, and a Walking Bus.
Website : https://www.beechworthmontessori.vic.edu.au/
Project story…
The school installed 15kW of solar PV in March 2015. The school had some funds, but not enough to cover the entire cost, so CORENA lent them $16,000, enough for 10kW, and the school covered the rest. Despite the low electricity rates paid by schools in Victoria this project paid for itself via savings on power bills in 5 years and we received their final loan repayment instalment in February 2020. By then, via the use of their earlier repayments in subsequent projects as per our revolving fund mechanism, that original $16,000 loan had achieved $33,751 worth of climate goodness (at the school + at subsequent projects), and had avoided 122MWh of grid electricity.
Even though loan repayments from Beechworth school are no longer helping fund future projects directly, the money they have repaid us will continue to revolve in and out of future projects forever and their solar panels will continue reducing emissions for many years.
During fundraising for this project we introduced the option of making recurring donations. This proved to be quite popular, and as of 5 years later some of those are still recurring regularly.
This project has been fully funded – Thank you!
Status: Funded project – loan fully repaid
Loan amount: $16,000
Loan repayments: $770/quarter
Work details
15 KW System:
– 1 x SMA 15kw Tri Power 3 phase inverter
– 60 x Suntech STP-20/WD Poly Panels
– Clenergy Racking
Educational monitoring system (To be donated by Suntrix)
Cost: Total cost approx $24,000. CORENA lent $16,000 and the school paid for the rest themselves.
Expected savings: Approx 22,000kWh/yr overall (14,666kWh/yr from CORENA funded part), $3,080/yr (CORENA-funded portion) based on special education dept tariff of 21c/kWh.
Reduction in carbon emissions/yr: Equivalent to 2.64 average households using renewable electricity instead of grid electricity (from CORENA funded part)
Funding for this project was completed on December 17, 2014, but delays in obtaining approval meant the installation could not take place till early March. The system then needed to be inspected and was finally connected on March 24, 2015.
Honour roll
Thank you to the following people for donating to this project.
| Date | Name | Amount |
| 17/12/2014 | Jack Rees | $655.61 |
| 17/12/2014 | Peter Wade | $11.00 |
| 17/12/2014 | S & S McCabe | $20.00 |
| 17/12/2014 | gift for Amie | $20.00 |
| 16/12/2014 | Jonathan Maddox | $50.00 |
| 16/12/2014 | Frank Lin | $10.00 |
| 15/12/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $10.00 |
| 15/12/2014 | Barb Frey | $8.00 |
| 15/12/2014 | Marty Booth | $60.00 |
| 15/12/2014 | Jonathan Prendergast | $5.00 |
| 15/12/2014 | Charlene Grainger | $100.00 |
| 15/12/2014 | Dianne Cameron | $50.00 |
| 15/12/2014 | Gareth | $52.00 |
| 13/12/2014 | Gift for Maryanne & Richard | $194.90 |
| 12/12/2014 | gift for Kate & Tom | $30.00 |
| 12/12/2014 | gift for Shane & Bev | $20.00 |
| 11/12/2014 | Mike Craddock | $100.00 |
| 10/12/2014 | Peter Wade | $11.00 |
| 9/12/2014 | Stu | $25.00 |
| 9/12/2014 | Mike Tess Liz Ruth Elvie Bernie | $50.00 |
| 9/12/2014 | Gift for Helen & Marty | $10.00 |
| 8/12/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $10.00 |
| 8/12/2014 | Barb Frey | $8.00 |
| 8/12/2014 | Michael Childs | $50.00 |
| 4/12/2014 | Nick Cumbo | $10.41 |
| 4/12/2014 | Wayne Stanford | $25.00 |
| 4/12/2014 | Jacinta Green | $5.00 |
| 3/12/2014 | Peter Wade | $11.00 |
| 3/12/2014 | Eleanor Evans | $100.00 |
| 2/12/2014 | Monica Oliphant | $500.00 |
| 2/12/2014 | Original Green Co | $500.00 |
| 2/12/2014 | Chas Martin | $400.00 |
| 1/12/2014 | Jonathan Doig | $10.00 |
| 1/12/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $10.00 |
| 1/12/2014 | Barb Frey | $8.00 |
| 1/12/2014 | Kaz.S | $25.00 |
| 1/12/2014 | Gift for Claire Davill | $70.00 |
| 1/12/2014 | Gift for Shayne Uren | $70.00 |
| 30/11/2014 | gift for Michael Kubler | $50.00 |
| 30/11/2014 | Interest | $1.48 |
| 28/11/2014 | Nick Cumbo | $500.00 |
| 26/11/2014 | Peter Wade | $11.00 |
| 26/11/2014 | John Pederick | $500.00 |
| 26/11/2014 | Nick Cumbo | $6.47 |
| 26/11/2014 | Anton Maurus | $35.00 |
| 24/11/2014 | Tulgeen repayment | $1,000.00 |
| 24/11/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $10.00 |
| 24/11/2014 | Barb Frey | $8.00 |
| 24/11/2014 | Mackenzie Davey | $10.00 |
| 24/11/2014 | Sophia Case | $23.12 |
| 20/11/2014 | Wayne Stanford | $25.00 |
| 20/11/2014 | David Lloyd | $25.00 |
| 19/11/2014 | Peter Wade | $11.00 |
| 19/11/2014 | Kristen Frost | $50.00 |
| 19/11/2014 | Anon | $9.16 |
| 17/11/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $10.00 |
| 17/11/2014 | Barb Frey | $8.00 |
| 17/11/2014 | Peter Wade | $33.00 |
| 17/11/2014 | Marty Booth | $60.00 |
| 17/11/2014 | S & S McCabe | $20.00 |
| 17/11/2014 | Jonathan Maddox | $50.00 |
| 17/11/2014 | Frank Lin | $10.00 |
| 17/11/2014 | mr oCean | $10.00 |
| 17/11/2014 | Gawler repayment | $2,232.80 |
| 15/11/2014 | Melissa Brown | $10.00 |
| 15/11/2014 | Willunga donation jar | $12.00 |
| 14/11/2014 | Jonathan Prendergast | $5.00 |
| 10/11/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $10.00 |
| 10/11/2014 | Stu | $100.00 |
| 10/11/2014 | Barb Frey | $8.00 |
| 6/11/2014 | Nick Cumbo | $25.00 |
| 6/11/2014 | Wayne Stanford | $25.00 |
| 5/11/2014 | Original Green Co | $500.00 |
| 4/11/2014 | Jacinta Green | $5.00 |
| 3/11/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $10.00 |
| 3/11/2014 | Nimmi | $50.00 |
| 31/10/2014 | Nick Cumbo | $8.50 |
| 31/10/2014 | Phil M | $250.00 |
| 31/10/2014 | Interest | $0.17 |
| 30/10/2014 | Gaby Jung | $50.00 |
| 29/10/2014 | Peter Wade | $11.00 |
| 27/10/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $10.00 |
| 27/10/2014 | Anton Maurus | $35.00 |
| 27/10/2014 | Marty Booth | $20.00 |
| 24/10/2014 | Nick Cumbo | $25.00 |
| 23/10/2014 | Wayne Stanford | $25.00 |
| 23/10/2014 | Mackenzie Davey | $10.00 |
| 23/10/2014 | Sophia Case | $23.12 |
| 20/10/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $10.00 |
| 20/10/2014 | David Lloyd | $25.00 |
| 20/10/2014 | Char Grainger | $10.00 |
| 20/10/2014 | Tim H | $25.00 |
| 17/10/2014 | S & S McCabe | $20.00 |
| 16/10/2014 | Jonathan Maddox | $50.00 |
| 16/10/2014 | Frank Lin | $10.00 |
| 14/10/2014 | Jonathan Prendergast | $5.00 |
| 14/10/2014 | J. Johnston | $975.70 |
| 13/10/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $10.00 |
| 10/10/2014 | Peter Wade | $11.00 |
| 9/10/2014 | Wayne Stanford | $25.00 |
| 6/10/2014 | Luke Byrnes | $25.00 |
| 6/10/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $10.00 |
| 6/10/2014 | Jacinta Green | $5.00 |
| 3/10/2014 | Peter Wade | $7.00 |
| 1/10/2014 | Interest | $0.15 |
| 29/09/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $10.00 |
| 26/09/2014 | Anton Maurus | $35.00 |
| 25/09/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $10.00 |
| 25/09/2014 | Wayne Stanford | $25.00 |
| 25/09/2014 | Marty Booth | $20.00 |
| 24/09/2014 | Nick Cumbo | $100.00 |
| 23/09/2014 | Mackenzie Davey | $10.00 |
| 23/09/2014 | Sophia Case | $23.12 |
| 22/09/2014 | David Lloyd | $25.00 |
| 20/09/2014 | Gary | $100.00 |
| 19/09/2014 | N. B. | $100.00 |
| 19/09/2014 | Christine Haines | $9.46 |
| 18/09/2014 | S & S McCabe | $20.00 |
| 16/09/2014 | Frank Lin | $10.00 |
| 15/09/2014 | Jonathan Prendergast | $5.00 |
| 15/09/2014 | Spurrier family | $20.00 |
| 12/09/2014 | David McLeod | $50.00 |
| 11/09/2014 | Wayne Stanford | $25.00 |
| 11/09/2014 | ww | $97.30 |
| 04/09/2014 | Jacinta Green | $5.00 |
| 04/09/2014 | Gawler repayment | $1,086.30 |
| 03/09/2014 | Janet Ellis (travel) | $353.00 |
| 02/09/2014 | Bill Gresham | $500.00 |
| 31/08/2014 | Interest | $0.06 |
| 28/08/2014 | Wayne Stanford | $25.00 |
| 28/08/2014 | Tulgeen repayment | $1,000.00 |
| 26/08/2014 | Wayne Stanford | $10.00 |
| 26/08/2014 | Anton Maurus | $35.00 |
| 25/08/2014 | Marty Booth | $20.00 |
| 25/08/2014 | Mackenzie Davey | $10.00 |
| 24/08/2014 | Sophia Case | $23.12 |
| 23/08/2014 | Luc Plowman | $48.50 |
| 20/08/2014 | David Lloyd | $25.00 |
| 18/08/2014 | Frank Lin | $10.00 |
| 18/08/2014 | Wayne Stanford | $10.00 |
| 18/08/2014 | Glynn & Liz Dalton | $100.00 |
| 14/08/2014 | Jonathan Prendergast | $5.00 |
| 14/08/2014 | Spurrier family | $20.00 |
| 14/08/2014 | Glenn Christie & Family | $10.00 |
| 12/08/2014 | Frank Lin | $70.00 |
| 11/08/2014 | Wayne Stanford | $10.00 |
| 08/08/2014 | Frank Lin | $100.00 |
| 04/08/2014 | Wayne Stanford | $10.00 |
| 04/08/2014 | Jacinta Green | $5.00 |
| 01/08/2014 | Luke Schubert | $28.98 |
| 31/07/2014 | Gary P | $25.00 |
| 31/07/2014 | Interest | $0.50 |
| 30/07/2014 | Marty Vaher | $500.00 |
| 30/07/2014 | Stewart | $50.00 |
| 29/07/2014 | Wayne Stanford | $10.00 |
| 29/07/2014 | Anton Maurus | $35.00 |
| 26/07/2014 | Gabrielle Gutsche | $48.50 |
| 25/07/2014 | Marty Booth | $20.00 |
| 24/07/2014 | Laquorious Dee | $25.00 |
| 24/07/2014 | Sophia Case | $23.12 |
| 23/07/2014 | Mackenzie Davey | $10.00 |
| 21/07/2014 | David Lloyd | $25.00 |
| 15/07/2014 | Dave Clarke | $210.00 |
| 14/07/2014 | Jonathan Prendergast | $5.00 |
| 14/07/2014 | Spurrier family | $20.00 |
| 07/07/2014 | David Tomkins | $30.00 |
| 04/07/2014 | JCC | $25.00 |
| 04/07/2014 | Jacinta Green | $5.00 |
| 03/07/2014 | Jody Moate | $19.22 |
| 03/07/2014 | Simon Jones | $100.00 |
| 02/07/2014 | Seva Community Yoga | $80.00 |
| 02/07/2014 | Riverdell | $53.23 |