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Aussie tenants to share solar power in world-first trial

The Salvation Army is involved in a revolutionary trial in which excess power from rooftop solar panels will be shared and traded amongst numerous tenants living in the same building.

Melbourne based start-up Allume Energy developed the SolShare platform, which allows power from one single panel to be metered out to different residents.

Previously such projects have stalled due to the lack of clarity behind who owns rooftop space, and the difficultly in tracking usage between multiple residencies.

The $1.04m pilot project is being financed by Green Peak Energy, with an additional $220,000 in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

It will see panel systems installed across 10 Salvation Army buildings. The SolShare platform will distribute and track power usage by each tenant, through a series of individual meters.

“Allume Energy is immensely proud to be deploying our world-first technology on this project and demonstrating how solar electricity can be shared to multiple tenants in the same building. This is core to our mission of making solar accessible to all,” Allume Energy CEO Cameron Knox said.

“Allume Energy’s project and SolShare technology could open up access to the benefits of rooftop solar no matter where or what type of housing people live in,” ARENA CEO Darren Miller said.

“With the help of Green Peak Energy, owners of buildings can now install solar at no upfront cost and on-sell to their tenants, creating a new market for rooftop solar.

“ARENA is particularly excited that Allume Energy is trialling their technology with The Salvation Army, who will be able to free up more funds from energy costs to help those Australians most in need.”

The trial will take place in Glenorchy, Tasmania.

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Nathan Jolly

Nathan Jolly was an in-house journalist with Elite Agent. He worked with the company from July 2020 to December 2020.