Kimberley Communities Solar Saver program to benefit 400 families

Five Kimberley remote communities are set to benefit from a near $20m funding injection from the State and Federal Government to install rooftop solar on homes in regional WA.

The funding injection will help the State Government’s Kimberley Communities Solar Saver program install solar panels on residential rooftops in Beagle Bay, Djarindjin-Lombadina, Ardyaloon, Bidyadanga and Warmun.

The program is set to benefit 400 families across the communities and will save households about $450 a year on power bills while also helping to reduce reliance on expensive diesel generators.

Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the funding will help regional and remote Western Australians gain access to cleaner and cheaper energy.

“In WA, 480,000 households are already reaping the benefits of household solar and this program helps more renters, low income households and First Nations communities share in the cost of living savings from clean energy,” he said.

WA Energy Minister Bill Johnston said the funding would lead to a more equitable renewable energy future for all Australians.

“The Cook Government is committed to making the clean energy transition fair for all Western Australians and the Commonwealth Government’s support is instrumental to delivering these programs,” he said.

The funding will also help a further 1600 regional households access cheaper, cleaner energy from centralised solar farms through the Sunshine Saver Program.

The funding boost is part of the Commonwealth’s $100 million Solar Banks commitment to deploy community-scale solar for more than 25,000 Australian households that have difficulty accessing solar.