CEFC backs push for solar and storage in all new-build homes

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The shift towards making built-in solar and battery storage the “new normal” for new-build homes in Australia now has the backing of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, in a joint initiative with leading property development group, Mirvac.
In an announcement on Thursday, the CEFC said it was committing up to $90 million in debt finance towards Mirvac’s plan to embed a range of clean energy measures as part of the base build in three new masterplanned residential communities.
The communities, planned for development in Sydney and Brisbane, will include more than 300 family homes of three and four bedrooms, each with built-in solar and battery storage systems, as well as high-grade insulation, LED lighting and energy efficient appliances.
The 5.1kW rooftop solar systems, paired with 10kWh battery systems – what sort of battery has not yet been revealed – would provide first and new home buyers with a built-in solution to meet up to 90 per cent of their household’s energy consumption, the CEFC said.
“The CEFC’s finance will mean this clean energy technology is already included in the homes during construction, at no additional cost to the home buyer,” said CEFC chief Ian Learmonth.
“This will deliver significant and ongoing long-term benefits to families and residents,” he said.
CEFC property sector lead Chris Wade said that the green bank’s goal was to help see these built-in energy technologies become the ‘new normal’ for Australian homes – something we have already seen taking shape across the property port folios of a number of major developers.
Residential developer Metricon, for example, recently told One Step Off The Grid that more than half of the roughly 1,000 new homes it is building a year in New South Wales alone will have rooftop solar and battery storage included.
Last month, it revealed a new deal in partnership with solar installer CSR Bradford, where NSW and Queensland customers who chose from its Designer range would also have the option to include a Solar ChargePack.
In January, Porter Davis, announced a deal – again with solar retailer Bradford Energy – to include a 5.6kW rooftop solar system and 13.5kWh Tesla Powerwall 2 to 50 knock-down rebuilds in Victoria, as part of a limited promotion.
And there are many more examples.
“Smart building design, combined with solar and battery storage packages, can give home owners greater control over their energy use and can pave the way for energy self-sufficiency,” the CEFC’s Wade said.
“As a key part of this investment, we will work with Mirvac to monitor energy use and track energy savings, so we can share insights into the positive impacts of these technologies on day-to-day
energy consumption.
“We see this as building the foundation of an ongoing relationship with Mirvac to enhance clean energy standards in the residential housing sector.”
Mirvac Group general manager of sustainability, Sarah Clarke, said that for the company, the initiative was part of its target to be net positive in energy and water by 2030, and to facilitate sustainable living through their homes.
“Cost of living and environmental sustainability are issues our customers really care about, and this is another great example of how Mirvac is focused on providing more affordable living options,” Clarke said.

This post was published on March 15, 2018 3:54 pm

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  • Not a word about orientation, eaves width, external shading of east and west windows, internal thermal mass...
    I've said it all before.

    • And you are spot on Hettie. Otherwise more than 5KW will be needed. And no mention of what a/c they will be offering with these homes either, I bet it will be a cheap ducted system as usual.

      • It is very dispiriting.
        As an AirBnB host, I have many people coming to my home.
        Always, "it's so lovely and cool/warm in here!" Is about the first thing a guest says.
        No aircon. Ceiling fans. High efficiency gas heating in the winter, but that's not needed until about 5.30pm most days. Turns itself off at 10.30, but next morning it is 16° inside, minus 7° outside. The heater on for an hour, no more unless an extended period of overcast.
        To me it's a no brainer, but so many people haven't got a clue.

        • "High efficiency gas heating in the winter, but that's not needed until about 5.30pm most days"
          Room for improvement then. RCAC with a decent COP (energy efficiency) like the daikin US7 will knock any gas heater out of the park on value for money.

          • Which is why I am saving up for one, using my FIT credits.
            When I built the house 6 years ago, gas was half the price it is now, and I scorned aircon, preferring ceiling fans, and not think g about the heating value of RCAC. Now I know better. The aircon is on order, but I am getting a Panasonic 6kW model, partly because it is so quiet, partly because it is demand response ready.

          • Passive haus, I wish! Nowhere near that standard, but way better than most Aussie houses. Very comfortable year round, and very cheap to run.

  • Is this what it takes for Mirvac to do what is extremely obvious and in the interests of their home buyers, even if the home buyers aren't asking for it (heck there's plenty of 3rd party installers). Or did Mirvak just take CEFC for a $90m debt financing ride. I thought CEFC was supposed to deliver a 3-5% return on all investments (averaged out), why would they do it for free?

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