Mission Zero: Investment in solar power stacks up for young family

“Everybody in Tasmania should be doing this.” A young family has seen their yearly power bills shrink by thousands of dollars after installing a solar power system.

SOPHIE Bullock says when she and her young family realised they could make an investment that would pay for itself within five years and help the environment too, it was a no-brainer.

Last year, Mrs Bullock and husband Nick Bullock invested about $10,000 in a solar system for their Howrah property that is also home to their daughters Freya, 4, and Jasmine, 1.

“My mum got solar on her house and her power bills basically completely disappeared overnight and so we decided to install solar thinking that it’s really good we can save the planet and save money at the same time,” Mrs Bullock, 33, said.

“We were just really keen to reduce our carbon emissions as quickly as possible and I think everybody in Tasmania should be doing this because it is a very easy way to make a big difference.

“What you spend on the system you save in [money] off your power bill.”

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Sophie Bullock, with her children Freya and Jasmine, says the family is saving thousands of dollars a year on their power bill since installing solar panels. Picture: Mireille Merlet

The family engaged Tasmanian company I Want Energy to install the system.

“They were absolutely amazing from beginning to end and made the process really easy,” Mrs Bullock said.

She said before installation, the family was spending between $2000 and $3000 in electricity costs each year at the home on Hobart’s Eastern Shore.

Now, they are only spending a few hundred dollars a year.

“In summer, our power bill was $5. And our most recent one was $100,” she said.

“Our cost of living has not changed, except we are generating a lot of renewable energy without changing a thing about our lifestyle.

“We can use power without feeling guilty for it.”

Mission Zero: Tassie’s key role in renewable future

TASMANIA’S reputation as Australia’s renewable energy powerhouse will only strengthen when projects such as the Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link take shape, Hydro Tasmania says.

Hydro Tasmania has about 1200 employees, including 900 who are based in Tasmania, and it runs 30 power stations and more than 50 major dams.

Interim chief executive Ian Brooksbank said Tasmania – which has already achieved net zero emissions – had significant further potential in the future development of wind and hydropower to meet Australia’s future needs.

Mr Brooksbank said Battery of the Nation would include the redevelopment of the Tarraleah power station and a pumped hydro development at Lake Cethana, which he said was a cost-effective solution for meeting the country’s future energy needs.

Mr Brooksbank said greater interconnection provided by the Bass Strait Marinus Link would help Tasmania’s energy security, deliver the lowest possible power prices and support jobs.

“Through the Battery of the Nation, Hydro Tasmania stands ready to help make Tasmania part of an energy future that’s clean, reliable and affordable,” he said.

Hydro Tasmania regional production manager Martin Doyle with his daughters Kirra, 12, and Darci, 8, at the Meadowbank Dam and power station north of New Norfolk. Picture: Chris Kidd

Hydro Tasmania regional production manager Martin Doyle said as a parent he was motivated by the need to safeguard his children’s future.

“As parents, we want to be good custodians of the planet, as best we can,” he said.

“The decisions we make today will impact our kids’ futures. That’s why it’s important to be clear about the decisions we make.”

Mr Doyle said he had a family connection with Hydro as his brother undertook his apprenticeship there.

“But the main thing is that I’ve always been fascinated by the natural elements of hydropower, that we use water to make electricity,” he said.

Mr Doyle covers the Gordon, Lower Derwent and Upper Derwent hydropower schemes, providing oversight across the southern power stations.

Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Guy Barnett said Tasmania was 100 per cent self-sufficient in renewable energy and the government had legislated a target to double renewable generation to 200 per cent of current needs by 2040.

“In 2013, Tasmania was the first jurisdiction in Australia to achieve zero net emissions and has achieved this target in six of the past seven years,” he said.

“This accomplishment reflects the carbon sink in our sustainably managed forest estate and our enviable renewable energy profile.”

Mr Barnett said the Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation projects were progressing well and would present further opportunities to create more jobs and grow the state’s renewable energy sector

Mr Brooksbank said Hydro Tasmania had a low emissions profile and had reduced reportable emissions by 350,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents over the past five years.

Mission Zero 2050 is about real, practical and pragmatic solutions that will help the planet – and Australia’s interests as well. Read more at missionzero2050.com.au

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Originally published as Mission Zero: Investment in solar power stacks up for young family