Solar Victoria’s Purpose
Our purpose is to empower Victorians to access clean and affordable energy. Victoria’s economy is being transformed to one which will be powered by renewable energy. This transition is critical to mitigate climate change and to bring down energy bills for Victorians.
As experts in solar and energy efficiency we play a critical role in this transition and in supporting the electrification of households.
What we do
Solar Victoria delivers the Victorian Government’s flagship Solar Homes program, a $1.3billion investment over 10 years to support hundreds of thousands of Victorians to participate in the renewable energy transition. It also provides develops policy including legislation, regulation and program specifications to support the Victorian Energy Upgrades Program – Australia's largest energy efficiency obligation program.
The Solar Homes program provides rebates and interest free loans for residential solar, batteries and energy efficient hot water. While accelerating the energy transition we also support industry growth and innovation to boost energy supply, create new jobs in the renewables sector and tackle climate change.
Since launching in 2018, we have supported the installation of over 350,000 solar panel, battery and hot water systems have been installed in Victorian households. Our programs reduce the upfront cost of installing renewable and energy efficient technology, so Victorians can cut their power bills and transition toward an electric home powered by solar.
We are delivering the Solar for Apartment program to bring the benefits of solar power to apartment households, and the Residential Electrification Grants Program to deliver solar panel and hot water rebates at scale through innovative providers and further the transition to electrification.
Our audit program supports safe installs, providing further reassurance to customers. It has been crucial in adding to the highest standards of safety and quality in the solar industry, along with authorised providers and eligible products. Since 2021, the Training and Workforce Development Program has provided solar-specific training and business support to build a robust industry to deliver the needs of the program and into the future.
Solar Victoria has also delivered the Solar for Business Program, a rebate to support businesses to install solar on business premises; the Zero Emissions Vehicle Subsidy to support the uptake of electric vehicles; and the Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades Program to deliver rebates to low-income households to install energy-efficient reverse-cycle air conditioners.
The Solar Homes Program has installed more than two gigawatts of solar (PV) capacity and will cut Victoria's carbon emissions by almost four million tonnes – the same as taking one million of Victoria's 4.6 million cars off the road. The program is expected to generate 11.8 per sent of the renewable electricity needed to meet Victoria’s 40 per cent target for renewable energy by 2025.
In June 2024 the Victorian Energy Upgrades program joined Solar Victoria, bringing together two of the Government’s most important household energy transition programs. The VEU program is the largest energy efficiency upgrade program in Australia, helping Victorians upgrade their homes and businesses with energy-efficient products and services by offering discounts and rebates. By supporting Victorians to make the switch to efficient electric alternatives, VEU is helping cut their energy bills, reduce their energy use, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The program will save 28 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions for Victoria between 2022 and 2025. That’s equivalent to taking more than 8.5 million cars off the road for a year.
The VEU Strategic Review, announced in the 2024 State Budget and led by Solar Victoria, will strengthen the VEU program to deliver electrification and energy efficiency at scale.
Solar Victoria Leadership Team
Solar Victoria has a well credentialed senior leadership team, with significant experience across the energy, sustainability and communications sectors.
Our leadership team has a clear vision for delivery of the program, with the goal of saving Victorian households thousands of dollars and helping to provide a cleaner, renewable future.
Solar Victoria's leaders strive to build a positive organisational culture built on strong leadership, diversity, collaboration, innovation and investment in our people.
Solar Victoria aligns with to DEECA's chosen values of
- teamwork
- wellbeing and safety
- ownership
- service excellence.
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