With electrify prices on the rise, many households and organisations nationwide are looking into alternative, more environmental friendly, sources of energy. One the renewable energy technologies that has gained significant popularity over the last years is solar power.

Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity. The main components of a typical solar system consists of a PV Array, which is the component actually responsible for converting the solar power that shines on it into DC current, and an Inverter which converts the DC into AC current after which it becomes suitable for use.

Depending on how the system is set up, and the energy demand at the time, the generated electricity can either be used directly on the premises, or fed back to the grid.

One of the main contributing reasons that thousands of households and organisations in Australia have chosen to install a solar PV system on their roof, is that State and Federal Governments are promoting the uptake of this technology by providing rebates.

The Federal Government provides an upfront discount for customer buying a solar PV system, or other types of renewable energies, in the form of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). In addition, some States provide an additional financial incentive when the generated electricity is fed back to the grid.

While the level of State and Federal rebates has been reduced, there are still funding opportunities available. Together with the fact that the prices of solar PV systems have considerably reduced compared to a few years ago, and the continuous increase in electricity prices, it is still worthwhile to look into installing solar power on your roof.

Demand Manager can assist households and organisations to gain access to Federal Government funding by looking after the STC creation process. To date Demand Manager has created hundreds of thousands of STCs to assist its clients. Please click here to find out more about our STC creation services.

Typically retailers will provide customers an upfront discount when they purchase certain whitegoods. By completing a Nomination Form, customers agree to let Demand Manager Pty Ltd create NSW Energy Savings Certificates (ESCs), representing the carbon savings that these products will help bring about.

A portion of the value of these Certificates will be returned to the appliance retailer to cover the upfront discount they provided, and to continue to assist customers choose high-rated whitegood appliances.

Please contact Demand Manager should you be interested to get your store involved in the Carbon Saver Program.

During the 2010 election campaign, the Government announced an additional budget of $30 million to expand the Green Building Fund, broadening its scope to include hotels and shopping centres as well as commercial office buildings.

A total of 7 rounds have been announced since the start of the program and the last round closed on 29 March 2011.The program’s objective was to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions impact of the built environment by reducing energy consumed in the operation of commercial office buildings. Grants of between $50,000 and $500,000 have been awarded to approved projects, to a maximum of 50% of eligible project costs.

Demand Manager has been involved in all rounds of the GBF and secured an excess of $5.5 million in funding for a range of clients.