A landmark former orphanage site in Surrey Hills could be transformed into a new residential community under plans lodged by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/antipodean-land-developments">Antipodean Land Developments</a> that would deliver 76 apartments and townhouses while restoring some of the suburb's most significant heritage buildings.

The burgeoninng Melbourne-based developer has submitted plans for the 9,158 sqm site at 1 Kent Road and 24 Durham Road, home to the former St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children, a historic institutional complex dating back to the late 19th century. The proposal seeks to adaptively reuse several heritage buildings while introducing two new four-storey residential buildings set within extensive landscaped grounds.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> and Kerstin Thompson Architects, the project has been conceived as a contemporary residential village embedded within a restored heritage precinct. The development team describes the design approach as "The Village in the Garden," with new buildings positioned among mature landscaping by OCULUS and significant heritage structures.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44ec8c1b-c0b6-44ae-859e-5811b3e6a023" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29.png?VersionId=p.p1_KFh4iQoV4nisdnPfQBAsWNi7m79" />

The proposal would deliver 76 dwellings comprising a mix of apartments and duplex-style residences, significantly increasing housing supply on one of the largest privately held residential landholdings in Surrey Hills. The development includes 127 car spaces, 24 bicycle spaces and more than 1,000 sqm of communal amenity, with the existing chapel building earmarked for conversion into resident facilities.

According to the planning submission, the project centres on the restoration and adaptive reuse of the site's most significant heritage assets, including the original c.1889 St Joseph's building, the chapel designed by architect Augustus Andrew Fritsch, and the historic brick perimeter walls and entry gates. The proposal also incorporates the retention of other contributory buildings including the former infirmary and school building.

Tract Consultants, in the planning report accompanying the application, said the scheme had been shaped through extensive heritage analysis and design development.

"The shared vision for the Site by the project team has culminated in a scheme which successfully breathes life back into a historic site while delivering upon the objectives of Victoria's Housing Statement in a carefully curated and contextually responsive manner."

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7263b7d8-95ea-400f-9531-6ca7d22c3c33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29.png?VersionId=4cR1tiWOsDpgxEOwZi5vVFcyvvOsYkIE" />

The proposal is being assessed under Victoria's Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway. As part of the application, three per cent of the project's residential development cost would be contributed to the Social Housing Growth Fund. The development would also provide a diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences targeting a broader range of buyers than typically found in Surrey Hills' detached housing market.

Sustainability initiatives include an anticipated 66 per cent BESS score, natural cross-ventilation to 80 per cent of apartments, 28 per cent deep soil landscaping and a canopy cover outcome exceeding local planning requirements. The proposal also sets aside more than 1,083 sqm for communal indoor and outdoor resident amenity spaces.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33fad46f-fe26-4d0a-acfd-6b776e1c6a3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design.png?VersionId=D9F6WVSyYCtGvSUmith35LRp6R7PQkw_" />

Planning documents describe the property as one of the largest underutilised residential sites in Surrey Hills, arguing it presents a rare opportunity to introduce "missing middle" housing in an established inner-eastern suburb while preserving and revitalising a significant heritage precinct.

Antipodean Land Developments has built a reputation for design-focused residential projects across Melbourne, particularly in the medium-density sector. Previous developments include Neighbourhood in Brunswick East, delivered with Breathe Architecture, and Balfe Park Lane, designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects.

They've been very active in site acquisition as they build out their future development pipeline. They recently launched Thornubury House, 45 apartments above a mix of commercial, retail, and food and beverage tenancies, and have plans for a boutique project in Fitzroy and another <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/antipodean-plan-apartments-for-deepdenes-missing-middle-on-whitehorse-road">"missing middle" project</a> on Deepdene's Whitehorse Road.

Joel Robinson

First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/auyin-property-development">Auyin</a> is the latest to turn to the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program in an effort to secure approval for its long-planned, mixed-use project in Elsternwick.

In 2018, Auyin lodged plans with Glen Eira City Council for a 14-storey building, however Council approved a reduced eight-storey scheme. A subsequent VCAT appeal in 2019 upheld the eight-storey height limit.

The project was later amended to nine storeys, but Auyin is now seeking to revive something closer to its original vision. The developer argues that the planning context has evolved significantly over the past decade, particularly within the Elsternwick Activity Centre, where higher-density development has increasingly been encouraged along Glen Huntly Road.

The proposal would transform the 1,239 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/7-12-horne-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">7-15 Horne Street</a>, opposite Elsternwick Railway Station, into a 13-storey residential and retail development designed by CBG Architects, with 40 apartments

The site currently comprises three commercial properties.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5f465dd4-509b-4082-a669-0253b313914b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20podium.png?VersionId=72frWi0SmQ5AVJ3ARRhX5ILUYObhTm7x" />

The proposed apartment mix comprises 25 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom residences above 200 sqm of retail space at ground level. Residents would have access to a 90 sqm wellness facility, a 351 sqm communal indoor and outdoor terrace on the third level, and extensive landscaped areas throughout the development. A publicly accessible 135 sqm plaza would be created on the north-east corner of the site, providing seating, landscaping, and a new gathering space adjoining Horne Street.

The design adopts a four-storey podium that references the finer-grain character of the surrounding streetscape, with the upper tower recessed behind generous setbacks on all boundaries.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e637e763-2abc-4c34-a0aa-5c7ad36fae18" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20open.png?VersionId=J1AoOpZgTyaF.KeeFSX6lMjEScX8KKRi" />

A key element of the proposal is the reconfiguration and widening of the surrounding laneways. Vehicle access would be retained from Lois Lane, with upgraded pedestrian connections linking Ross Street and Horne Street. The development would provide 58 residential car spaces, two retail car spaces, and 52 bicycle spaces across two basement levels and ground-floor facilities.

Architecturally, the building draws inspiration from the established character of Elsternwick Village. The façade combines dark charcoal brickwork, textured concrete, bronze-toned metal detailing, and extensive planting integrated into podium and tower levels. The design also incorporates a chamfered corner treatment and publicly accessible plaza intended to strengthen pedestrian activity around the station precinct.

Elsternwick's last new development completion was&nbsp;EVA Elsternwick by Pitard late last year. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/milieu-property">Milieu</a> is working away on its nature-led neighbourhood, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/elsternwick-gardens-by-milieu-8-gordon-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">Elsternwick Gardens</a>, on Gordon Street, with its first stage expected to complete next year.

First look: Auyin seeks mixed-use apartment project in growing Elsternwick Activity Centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/otium-parkdale-123-125-como-parade-east-parkdale-vic-3195">Otium Parkdale</a>, the 13-residence boutique development by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/huxtable-property">Huxtable Property</a>, has entered its final stages of delivery, with completion expected within the coming month and more than half of the residences sold.

The Como Parade East project is nearing the finish line at a time when opportunities to purchase new apartments in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parkdale-vic-3195">Parkdale</a> remain exceptionally limited. Fewer than 10 per cent of dwellings in the bayside suburb are apartments, making developments like Otium a relatively rare addition to a market traditionally dominated by detached housing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5427]

The three-level development comprises 13 residences, including ten two-bedroom apartments and three larger three-bedroom homes, all positioned above a secure basement car park.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/almeida-architects">Almeida Architects</a> with a strong connection to its coastal surroundings, Otium combines red brick, exposed concrete and dark metal detailing with integrated landscaping and greenery. Expansive glazing, generous balconies and terraces have been incorporated throughout the design to maximise natural light and reinforce indoor-outdoor living.

Inside, the residences feature engineered European oak flooring, natural and reconstituted stone benchtops, Bosch kitchen appliances, ducted heating and cooling, lift access and secure entry systems. The larger three-bedroom residences on the upper level have been designed with house-like proportions, while the two-bedroom apartments prioritise functionality, flexibility and low-maintenance living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5421]

The project is now in its final stages, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/labco">Labco</a> completing the remaining landscaping and external finishing works following the completion of the residences' interiors.

Otium's location within the heart of Parkdale continues to underpin its appeal. Residents will be just steps from local cafés, restaurants, shops and the newly elevated Parkdale Station, while the beach is less than a kilometre away.

With the project tracking ahead of schedule, buyers can currently secure a residence with a five per cent deposit and benefit from settlement terms of up to eight months. The advanced stage of construction also provides buyers with the opportunity to walk through the near-complete residences and experience the quality and finishes firsthand ahead of completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134974]

Otium Parkdale enters final month before completion as rare apartment opportunity nears sellout

A new boutique apartment development is entering the market in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chermside-qld-4032">Chermside</a>, with Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ausdev">Ausdev</a> bringing 33 residences to a well-connected pocket of Brisbane's north.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/parkdrive-apartments-chermside-25-sammells-drive-chermside-qld-4032">Parkdrive Apartments</a>, at 25 Sammells Drive, will comprise a mix of one- and two-bedroom residences positioned within walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, and Bradbury Park.

Established in 1989, Ausdev has a long-standing presence across both development and construction, with Parkdrive Apartments representing its latest residential project in Brisbane's northern suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363778]

The development has been designed around open-plan living and natural light, with residences featuring stone benchtops, timber cabinetry, BOSCH appliances, and private balconies that extend the living areas outdoors.

Kitchens are positioned as the centrepiece of the homes, incorporating natural material palettes and integrated appliances, while bathrooms have been designed with a focus on functionality and understated finishes.

Residents will have access to a communal barbecue and entertaining area on Level 3, providing shared outdoor space within the development. Secure parking and lift access are also incorporated into the building.

The project will deliver a limited collection of 33 apartments, with one-bedroom residences priced from $749,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Beyond the building itself, the location places residents within easy reach of several of Chermside's key amenities. Bradbury Park is around 350 metres away, while Westfield Chermside is approximately 1.3 kilometres from the site. The Prince Charles Hospital is located within 750 metres, and the Chermside Bus Interchange is around 1.5 kilometres away, providing connections across Brisbane.

Parkdrive Apartments adds to the growing residential pipeline in Chermside, a suburb that continues to evolve as a major retail, healthcare, and transport hub for Brisbane's north.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152125]

Ausdev introduces boutique Parkdrive Apartments to Chermside's growing centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/skymark-group">Skymark</a>'s boutique Cronulla development Solis has secured a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy through Resilience Insurance, providing buyers of the 16-residence building on Ewos Parade with structural and waterproofing protection that extends a decade beyond the building's completion.

Currently under construction and due for completion in late 2027, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/solis-cronulla-8-ewos-parade-cronulla-nsw-2230">Solis</a> is one of a small number of new developments in the Sutherland Shire to carry Resilience LDI coverage, a distinction that carries increasing weight as buyer confidence in the off-the-plan sector continues to be shaped by how developers stand behind their product.

Latent Defects Insurance, which entered the Australian market in 2022 when Resilience Insurance was approved to offer the cover, protects buyers against major structural or waterproofing defects for ten years post-completion. Unlike traditional statutory warranties, it operates as a first-resort policy, if a covered defect arises, the insurer responds directly, without the buyer needing to pursue the builder or developer through a lengthy claims process.

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent has noted that the product addresses something fundamental to the new apartment market.

"The overarching feedback from prospective buyers in the new development space is that they want more confidence and assurances around the quality of the build," Nugent says.

"Resilience Insurance Latent Defects Insurance not only gives them complete peace of mind for 10 years, but it shows the developer they are buying from is standing by their product."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370898]

For Solis, the Resilience LDI policy adds a meaningful layer of accountability to an already considered project. The development comprises nine two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom residences, including one dual-level three-bedroom apartment, across a five-storey building on Ewos Parade, positioned between Shelly Beach and South Cronulla.

Garden apartments connect directly to private landscaped courtyards, while upper-level homes capture beach views to the east from level four and above.&nbsp;

All 16 residences include at least one balcony or courtyard, and select apartments on the upper floors feature bar areas and secondary flexible living spaces.

Hiba Sander, Managing Director of Skymark, says Solis offers a rare balance, nestled between the quiet beauty of secluded beaches and the lively charm of South Cronulla's esplanade.

"It's a place to choose your pace and live gracefully, seaside'," Sander says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370900]

The architecture, designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ida-design-group">IDA Design Group</a>'s Michael Trinh, draws from the natural erosion patterns of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/cronulla-nsw-2230">Cronulla</a>'s sandstone headlands, translating the organic forms of the coastline into soft curves, pavilion-style massing, and a material palette chosen for longevity in a salt-tinged environment.&nbsp;

Textured natural stone, soft renders, and timber-look battens reference the tones of the surrounding cliffs, while the building has been oriented to maximise natural light and passive ventilation, with primary living spaces facing north and east to capture morning sun and sea breezes.

"At Solis, our aim was to create architecture that feels quietly confident, grounded in natural materials like stone and timber, and elevated by light and landscape," Trinh says.&nbsp;

"The buildings are designed to sit gently within their coastal surrounds, with expansive glazing and abundant greenery creating a seamless dialogue between inside and out."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370897]

Interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hot-black">Hot Black</a> carry the same material language through to every room. Kitchens feature integrated Gaggenau appliances, sculpted stone benchtops, and Lo &amp; Co joinery, while bathrooms feature natural stone, timber, and brushed metal finishes.&nbsp;

Hot Black Founder and Design Director Sophie Safrin describes the intent as one of considered restraint: "At Solis, every detail has been thoughtfully considered to create a timeless coastal retreat, calm, refined, and effortlessly liveable. From natural finishes to seamless indoor-outdoor flow, Solis offers a quiet elegance that's deeply connected to its surroundings.

The landscape, designed by Julian Brady of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/sitedesignstudios">Site Design Studios</a>, treats green space as an integral part of the resident experience rather than an afterthought.&nbsp;

"Gentle curves and layered native plantings mirror the ebb and flow of the ocean," Julian Brady says, "creating a serene connection between architecture and place."&nbsp;

Coco Republic has provided bespoke furniture packages tailored to the project's coastal palette.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370899]

Skymark has an established track record in the Sutherland Shire, with a portfolio spanning Cronulla, Woolooware and Burraneer that includes Isla, Sylva, Bask, Shells, Sula and Mist. Securing LDI on Solis reflects a broader shift in how the developer is positioning its buildings to buyers, at a time when Resilience Insurance expects the policy to become mandatory in New South Wales by 2028.

Sales at Solis are launching soon through Ray White Projects, with an official event scheduled for 11 June. Enquire for more information.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150499]

Skymark takes out 10-year Resilience Insurance LDI at Solis Cronulla

Solar Panels

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SPONSORED POST
A beautiful masterplanned estate in the heart of the booming Logan growth corridor is the first to tap into Choice Homes' new partnership with SunYield Solar.
The picturesque <a href="https://www.choicehomes.com.au/estate/the-highlands" target="_blank">The Highlands estate</a> is inspired by nature and designed to bring the outdoors in.
Close to shopping, public transport and the central business districts of Beenleigh, Logan and Springwood, Highlands balances nature with convenience.
Logan's year-round sunshine makes it the perfect location to launch Choice Homes' partnership with SunYield, which provides every new house a solar energy package.
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With easy access to the M1, the estate is ideally positioned with the Gold Coast just 35 minutes south and Brisbane CBD 30 minutes to the north.
Residents can enjoy a tranquil lifestyle while remaining close to all the urban facilities they could need.
Just minutes from Eden’s Landing State School, Canterbury College and more than 21 public and private schools and numerous childcare centres in the Logan region, The Highlands provides families with every convenience.
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The picturesque Highlands estate is inspired by nature and designed to bring the outdoors in.
Close to shopping, public transport and the central business districts of Beenleigh, Logan and Springwood, Highlands balances nature with convenience.
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<li>Easy access to M1, with the Gold Coast just 35 minutes south and Brisbane CBD 30 minutes to the north</li>
<li>Residents can enjoy a tranquil lifestyle</li>
<li>Minutes from Edens Landing State School, Canterbury College and more than 21 public and private schools and numerous childcare centres </li>
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Landlords and tenants are set to both benefit financially with Sunyield, Stoddart Group's new solar technology.
A new batch of homes in Queensland will see the solar panels save as much as $275 a year on electricity.
The SunYield package includes a 6.5 KW solar power system, combined with a Stoddart Smart Board that replaces the standard meter box on a new home.  
SunYield is also battery ready, allowing landlords to add batteries as they become cheaper and increase the proportion of solar-generated power sold to the tenant.
Choices Homes director Troy Knight said the innovative technology is good for his customers, their tenants and the environment.
“We're always looking for ways to offer our customers a better investment, which made the decision to put SunYield on every home a simple one," he said.
“For our customers, it means an increased rental return and a home that's easier to rent.
"For our company, it means being one of the first to offer an innovative product that is good for our customers, their tenants and the environment.  
The Australian-first technology was designed locally and is being launched in Queensland with leading investment builders Choice Homes, Creation Homes, Brighton Homes and MetInvest, with each including SunYield as standard on their new homes. 
Stoddart Group's general manager for energy systems Adam Taylor says solar energy usage was once a difficult conversation with landlord and tenant before the new technology.
“It was too difficult to manage," he said.
“With SunYield, if the tenant chooses to use the solar panels, all solar and grid power is measured automatically via a smart switchboard and the tenant receives a single monthly power bill for all electricity consumed from both the solar and the grid.
“Renters have long missed out on the benefits of solar power simply because it was too hard or complicated for landlords to justify the cost.
“SunYield changes this by ensuring that solar on a new rental property is a good deal for the landlord, as well as the tenant.  
The process is completely automated, with the landlord then receiving a payment for all solar generated, whether it was used by the tenant or sent to the grid.
“With this technology, the landlord owns the solar system and can either sell the power to their tenant at a discount to the market rate or export it to the grid if the tenant chooses not to buy it.”
To download Choice Homes Urban Appeal 2019 magazine, <a href="https://www.choicehomes.com.au/estate/sovereign-estate" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Choice Homes partner with SunYield Solar for Logan's new Highlands Estate

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GUEST OBSERVATION
As Australians seek to <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-has-two-decades-to-avoid-the-most-damaging-impacts-of-climate-change-104409" target="_blank">control rising energy costs</a> and tackle the damaging impacts of climate change, rooftop solar has boomed.
To manage the variability of rooftop solar – broadly, the “no power at night” problem – we will also see a rapid increase in battery storage.
The question is: what will happen to these panels and batteries once they reach the end of their life?
If not addressed, ageing solar panels and batteries will create a <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/waste-crisis-looms-as-thousands-of-solar-panels-reach-end-of-life-20190112-p50qzd" target="_blank">mountain of hazardous waste for Australia</a> over the coming decades.
Our research, published recently in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652618336321" target="_blank">Journal of Cleaner Production</a>, looked at the barriers to managing solar panel waste, and how to improve it.
A potentially toxic problem
Solar panels generally last about 20 years. And lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries, which will be the most common battery storage for solar, last between five and 15 years. Many solar panels have already been retired, but battery waste will start to emerge more significantly in 2025. By 2050 the projected amount of waste from retired solar panels in Australia is over 1,500 kilotonnes (kT).
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/275370/original/file-20190520-69189-10eryit.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
Mass of end of life solar panels (a) and battery energy storage (b) 2020-2050. Salim et al. 2019
Solar panels and batteries contain valuable materials such as metals, glass, ruthenium, indium, tellurium, lead and lithium.
Recycling this waste will prevent environmental and human health problems, and save valuable resources for future use.
Product stewardship
Australia has a <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste-resource-recovery/product-stewardship/consultation-review-ps-act-incl-ntcrs" target="_blank">Product Stewardship Act</a>, which aims to establish a system of shared responsibility for those who make, sell and use a product to ensure that product does not end up harming the environment or people at the end of its life.
In 2016, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems were added to a <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste-resource-recovery/product-stewardship/legislation/product-list-2017-18" target="_blank">priority list</a> to be considered for a scheme design. This includes an assessment of voluntary, co-regulatory and regulatory pathways to manage the waste streams.
Sustainability Victoria (on behalf of the Victorian state government and with the support of states and territories) is leading a national investigation into a system of shared responsibility for end-of-life solar photovoltaic systems in Australia. Our research project has supported the assessment process.
Industries play a crucial role in the success of any product stewardship scheme. As we move into assessing and testing possible schemes, Australia’s PV sector (and other stakeholders) will have critical input.
A preferred product scope and stewardship approach will be presented to environment ministers. Scheme design and implementation activities are tentatively set to start in 2020.
Moving towards a circular economy
Federal and state environment ministers recently agreed to update the <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/d523f4e9-d958-466b-9fd1-3b7d6283f006/files/national-waste-policy-2018.pdf" target="_blank">National Waste Policy</a> to incorporate the principles of a <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-the-circular-economy-23298" target="_blank">circular economy</a>.
This approach aims to reduce the need for virgin raw materials, extend product life, maintain material quality at the highest level, prioritise reuse, and use renewable energy throughout the process.
Businesses in Australia currently have little incentive to innovate and improve the recycling rate. By helping implement circular business models such as lease, refurbishment and product-service systems, we can boost recycling, reduce collection costs and prolong tech lifetimes.
Requiring system manufacturers, importers or distributors to source solar panels and batteries designed for the environment makes both economic and environmental sense. By doing so, recyclers will recover more materials and achieve higher recirculation of recovered resources.
Consumers need to be provided with proper guidance and education for responsible end-of-life management of solar panels and batteries.
Immature domestic recycling capability
Now that <a href="https://theconversation.com/chinas-recycling-ban-throws-australia-into-a-very-messy-waste-crisis-95522" target="_blank">China is no longer accepting waste for recycling</a>, Australia needs to rapidly develop its domestic recycling industry. This will also spur job creation and contribute to the green economy.
Given Australia is struggling to recycle simple waste, such as cardboard and plastics, in a cost-effective way, we need to question our capability to deal with more complex solar PV and battery waste.
Australia currently has little capacity to recycle both <a href="http://reclaimpv.com/" target="_blank">solar panels</a> and <a href="https://envirostream.com.au/" target="_blank">batteries</a>.
And even if China were to suddenly start accepting Australia’s waste – an unlikely proposition – we cannot simply export our problem. As a signatory to the <a href="http://www.basel.int/Countries/StatusofRatifications/PartiesSignatories/tabid/4499/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Basel Convention</a>, exporting hazardous materials requires permits.
A previous study suggests half of Australia’s scrap metal is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0892687514003707" target="_blank">exported for overseas processing</a>, which indicates the lack of incentives for domestic recycling.
Even if we build domestic recycling capability for solar panels and batteries, it will be underused while landfills remain available as a low-cost disposal option.
It’s promising that South Australia and the ACT have banned certain e-waste categories from entering landfill, while Victoria will implement an all-encompassing e-waste landfill ban from July 1 2019. This means any end-of-life electrical or electronic device that requires an electromagnetic current to operate must be recycled.
Creating a circular economy for solar and battery waste will need a strong commitment from policymakers and industry. Ideally, we need to prioritise reuse and refurbishment before recycling.
If we combine sensible policies with proactive business strategy and education to promote recycling rates, we can have a reliable and truly sustainable source of renewable energy in this country.
The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Michael Dudley from Sustainability Victoria to this article.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/117421/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Rodney Stewart, Professor, Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University
Hengky Salim, PhD Candidate, Griffith University
Oz Sahin, Senior Research Fellow, Griffith University
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-a-looming-waste-crisis-from-australias-solar-energy-boom-117421" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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There’s a looming waste crisis from Australia’s solar energy boom

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A Queensland Government scheme to install solar and battery storage units in houses and small businesses seems set to be under-subscribed when it closes on June 30.
Energy Minister Anthony Lynham is urging Queenslanders to join the scheme.
It provides interest-free loans and grants for solar and battery storage.
“Installing a solar battery can save you up to $600 a year, even after taking into account loan repayments,” he said. 
“This is a great opportunity to cut your power bill and your emissions.
“The clock is ticking on the scheme: check your eligibility, get a quote from an approved supplier and apply before it’s too late.”
More than 3000 home and small business owners have already applied for funding under the $21 million scheme.
It was designed to help about 4000 families and small businesses. 
Property owners can get grants of $3000 for batteries and interest-free loans of up to $10,000 for rooftop solar panels and batteries.
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Queensland government solar scheme for houses ends June 30

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The rate of growth in residential rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV) in Australia since 2008 has been nothing short of breathtaking.
Our new research suggests that the households most likely to join in the solar spree are those that are affluent enough to afford the upfront investment, but not so wealthy that they don’t worry about their future power bills.
Australia now has the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://pv-map.apvi.org.au/historical#4/-26.67/134.12" target="_blank">highest penetration</a> of residential rooftop PV of any country in the world, with the technology having been installed on one in five freestanding or semi-detached homes. In the market-leading states of Queensland and South Australia this ratio is about one in three, and Western Australia is not far behind, with one in four having PV.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/221436/original/file-20180603-142072-rsg9fx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/221436/original/file-20180603-142072-rsg9fx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
The explosion in rooftop PV uptake since 2008. Derived from Clean Energy Regulator data.
While PV panels give households more control over their electricity bills, and each new installation helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the market’s rapid expansion has posed <a href="https://theconversation.com/slash-australians-power-bills-by-beheading-a-duck-at-night-27234" target="_blank">significant challenges</a> for the management of the electricity system as a whole.
Unlike other industries where goods can be warehoused or stockpiled to manage fluctuations in supply and demand, electricity is not yet readily storable. Storage options such as batteries are now <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-tesla-battery-heralds-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-fossil-fuels-41197" target="_blank">commercially available</a>, but haven’t yet reached widespread use. This means that a system operator is required to keep the grid balanced in real time, ideally with just the right amount of capacity and backup to manage shocks in supply or demand.
Securing the right amount of generation capacity for the electricity grid relies on long-term planning, informed by accurate supply and demand forecasts. Too much investment means excessive prices or assets lying idle (or both). Too little means longer, deeper or more frequent blackouts.
But as solar panels spread rapidly through the suburbs, the job of forecasting supply and demand is getting much harder.
This is because the commercial history of residential rooftop PV has been too short, and the pace of change too fast, for a clear uptake trend to be established. Previous attempts to predict the market’s continuing growth have thus entailed a lot of guesswork.
<h2>Why do people buy solar panels?</h2>
One way to improve our understanding is to talk to consumers directly about their purchasing intentions and decisions. The trick is to find out what prompts householders to take that final step from considering investing in solar panels, to actually buying them.
This was the approach we took with our research, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032118303769" target="_blank">published today in the international journal, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews</a>. We analysed data from a survey of more than 8,000 Queensland households in 2014 and 2015, part of a <a href="https://www.ergon.com.au/network/manage-your-energy/queensland-household-energy-survey" target="_blank">survey series</a> commissioned by an industry group now known as <a href="https://www.energyq.com.au/" target="_blank">Energy Queensland</a>.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/221437/original/file-20180603-142102-18m0kdj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/221437/original/file-20180603-142102-18m0kdj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Comparison of motivational factors between surveyed PV intenders and adopters. Bondio, Shahnazari &amp; McHugh (2018).
We found that the decision to go solar was driven largely by housholds’ concerns over rising electricity bills and the influence that economic life events have over perceptions of affordability.
But the households that tended to adopt PV were also those that were affluent enough not to be put off by the relatively large upfront cost.
This combination of having access to funds, while at the same time being concerned about future electricity prices, appears to be a broadly middle-class trait.
While the upfront cost of PV can deter lower-income households, this can be overcome by receiving an offer that is too good to refuse, or if concerns about ongoing electricity bills are acute – particularly in the case of retirees.
Electricity price uncertainty is a particular concern for retirees, who typically have a lower income. We found that retirees were more likely than non-retirees to invest in solar panels, all else being equal. Retirees, like many people who invest in solar power, seem to view buying solar panels as being like entering into a long-term contract for electricity supply, in that it provides price certainty over the life of the PV system.
We also found that while the idea of self-sufficiency was important for developing an intention to buy solar panels, this motivation later fell away among households that went ahead and bought them. This could be because householders who buy solar panels, but find themselves still relying significantly on the grid, may conclude that self-sufficiency isn’t achievable after all.
About one-third of those who said they intended to buy solar panels cited environmental concerns as a reason for their interest. Yet this factor did not significantly increase the odds of them going on to adopt the technology. This suggests that when it comes to the crunch, household finances are often the crucial determining factor.
We also found the chances of adopting solar panels were highest for homes with three or four bedrooms. Smaller homes may face practical limitations regarding roof space, whereas homes with five bedrooms or more are likely to be more valuable, suggesting that these householders may sit above a wealth threshold beyond which they are unconcerned about electricity bills.
But perhaps our most important finding is that analysis of household survey data can be useful to forecasters. Knowing who is adopting rooftop PV – and why – should enable better predictions to be made about the technology’s continuing expansion, including the crucial question of when the market might reach its saturation point.
The research paper can be downloaded <a href="https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1XCoS4s9HvtwmP" target="_blank">here</a> for free until August 1, 2018.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-mchugh-15147" target="_blank">Adam McHugh</a>, Honorary Research Associate, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/murdoch-university-746" target="_blank">Murdoch University</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-solar-panels-a-middle-class-purchase-this-survey-says-yes-97614" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Are solar panels a middle-class purchase?

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Leading office-products supplier COS has invested $1 million in installing over 1,500 solar panels at its facilities as it works towards zero carbon emissions.
The decision to invest in the panels came after an audit showed electricity to be contributing almost 50 per cent to the company’s carbon emissions.
COS’ solar energy farms in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are expected to produce 80 per cent of power usage at each site. The panels at its Sydney facility alone covers over 6,060 square metres. 
These three sites will produce more than 611 megawatt hours per annum and reduce COS’ carbon emissions by 532 tonnes per year – equivalent to removing 133 cars off the road and growing 3,191 mature trees — according to a media release.
COS managing director Dominique Lyone said the company being privately owned means it has the freedom to make long-term decisions that may not have an immediate return on investment. 
“This move reflects our commitment to embracing new technology to protect natural resources and create sustainable solutions that benefit current and future generations. We hope this inspires other organisations to reduce their carbon footprint,” he added
COS worked with solar energy equipment supplier Sun Connect to install the solar panels at each site.
Sun Connect CEO Mark Tuke said the COS project was one of the largest commercial solar panel installations Sun had undertaken.
The COS website will also feature live data showing the amount of energy generated from its solar energy farms. 
“The solar energy farms actually produce more energy than we need with 25 per cent being fed back into the electricity grid. The next phase of this project will involve further investigation into battery storage solutions to move us closer to our goal of a zero emissions future,” said Lyone.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Office products supplier COS spends $1 million on solar energy farms to power its offices

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GUEST OBSERVER
This year many Australian households will find themselves cut off from generous incentives paid for electricity they export into the grid from rooftop solar systems. 
Between September and December, state feed-in tariff (FiT) schemes in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia will finish.
The FiTs applying to over 275,000 customers will drop from between 16 and 60 cents per kilowatt hour to between 5 and 7.2 cents per kWh.
In NSW, the replacement FiT won’t be mandatory, with retailers allowed to decide what they pay. Of course, many of those customers have already recouped their investment. 
Now that our rooftop solar industry has matured, we need to reconsider the purpose of FiTs and align them with our goals for the electricity system in the future.
<h2>Why pay solar households?</h2>
FiTs have been hugely important in getting the global solar industry to where it is now. Solar electricity costs have fallen to levels that were unimaginable just 10 years ago.
Governments have traditionally used FiTs to achieve a policy aim, such as increasing renewable energy production by bridging the gap between current costs of electricity and the cost of new sources. 
Australian states began to introduce mandated FiTs in 2008. There has never been a national FiT in Australia, and Queensland, NSW and the ACT no longer have mandated FiTs. However, many electricity retailers offer FiTs, even when not mandated by government. 
<a href="/images/2016/12/09/image-20161107-27908-bq13sc.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<h4><img src="/images/2016/12/09/image-20161107-27908-bq13sc.png" alt=""></h4>
<h4>Current state of feed-in tariffs in Australia for new customers. Authors</h4>
The costs of FiTs are recovered in different ways, depending on whether they are government-mandated or not, but ultimately they fall on all electricity consumers. As governments wind back mandated FiTs, it’s assumed that FiTs will be roughly cost-neutral. 
<h2>Have they worked?</h2>
Residential solar installations soared after the introduction of FiTs in 2008.
Installations quadrupled each year in Australia until 2012, leading to 11,600 jobs and the highest penetration of households with rooftop solar in the world.  
This boom stimulated a competitive solar market in which residential installation costs have plummeted (as you can see below).
Australia now enjoys some of the lowest installation costs for rooftop solar in the world.
The trick that state policymakers missed, however, was making FiT policies sustainable. 
Early FiTs were excessively high, especially in NSW and Queensland, causing policy fallout and sudden withdrawal.
This was partly because the rapid reduction in solar prices exceeded expectations.
For example, the NSW government was forced into a hasty reassessment of its 2010 policy in order to prevent a cost blowout after massively underestimating the level of uptake.
By October 2010, just 10 months after it began, the NSW gross FiT was slashed from 60 to 20 cents per kWh. The scheme was closed to new participants in April 2011. 
Across Australia most states cut or entirely removed FiTs within four years. Most current FiTs are now well below retail prices.
This means that customers are being encouraged to use as much as possible of their solar energy to power their own homes rather than exporting it to the grid.
This is one of the reasons why the system size for solar installations in Australia tends to be smaller than elsewhere.
The fallout from these unsustainable FiT policies has unfortunately polarised the national conversation about solar.
Hundreds of thousands of solar power system owners are facing bill shock as FiTs are withdrawn, while those who do not have solar have been told they are footing the bill for their neighbours’ systems.
Politicians have sought to capitalise on this discontent, by blaming solar tariffs for high electricity prices. In many states, the actual value of rooftop solar has been pushed out of the conversation.
<h2>The real value of solar</h2>
A recent Victorian report found that the value of solar energy depends on when electricity is fed into the grid.
Solar energy is more valuable when exported to the grid at times of peak demand. 
The report argued that the value of solar should account for the reduction in transmission losses (the losses associated with transporting electricity from large power plants over great distances) and environmental effects, primarily the reduction in greenhouse gases from displacing fossil fuel generation. 
Solar installations can potentially add value in other ways too. For example, installing battery storage along with solar systems may allow domestic solar systems to offer other network services such as frequency and voltage control. 
Encouragingly, since the report the Victorian government has bucked the national trend and announced a multi-rate FiT scheme. 
The scheme offers different rates for exporting during peak, shoulder and off-peak times.
It will also reward solar owners for the greenhouse gas offsets related to their system’s output.
The scheme is expected to raise FiTs from around 5c per kWh to an average of between 6.5c and 7c per kWh. 
<h2>What next?</h2>
Nationally, we need to refocus the conversation about the purpose and value of FiTs.
Having already established a world-leading solar industry, we need to ask what FiTs can do for us now and into the future. 
If we want our electricity system to take advantage of technological advances, such as battery storage, we need to repurpose our FiTs to reflect the benefits of these technologies.
The Victorian example is a great step forward, providing a mechanism where consumers can leverage Australia’s low installation costs to become players in a more competitive energy market. 
But there are even more benefits to distributed energy systems that could be realised with intelligently applied FiTs.
This means we need more consideration of what solar systems can do for us, and less simplistic conversations about electricity costs.
Joe Wyndham is research analyst, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joe-wyndham-296652" target="_blank">here.</a>
Jay Rutovitz is research director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jay-rutovitz-301794" target="_blank">here</a>.
Both are authors for The Conversation.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

To pay solar households fairly, we need to understand the true value of solar

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/63382/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Solar households in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales will this year cease to be paid for power they export into the electricity grid.
In South Australia, some households will lose 16 cents per kilowatt-hour (c/kWh) from September 31. Some Victorian households will lose 25 c/kWh, and all NSW households will stop receiving payments from December 31.
These “feed-in tariffs” were employed to kick-start the Australian solar photovoltaic (PV) industry. They offered high payments for electricity fed back into the grid from roof-mounted PV systems. These varied from state to state and time to time.
For many householders, these special tariffs are ending. Their feed-in tariffs will fall precipitously to 4-8 c/kWh, which is the typical rate available to new PV systems. In some cases households may lose over A$1,000 in income over a year.
But while the windback may hurt some households, it may ultimately be a good sign for the industry.
<h2>What can households do?</h2>
At present, householders with high feed-in tariffs are encouraged to export as much electricity to the grid as possible. These people will soon have an incentive to use this electricity and thereby displace expensive grid electricity. This will minimise loss of income.
Reverse-cycle air conditioning (for space heating and cooling) uses a lot of power that can be programmed to operate during daylight hours when solar panels are most likely to be generating electricity. The same applies to heating water, either by direct heating or through use of a heat pump. For heating water, solar PV is now competitive with gas, solar thermal and electricity from the grid.
Batteries, both stationary (for house services) and mobile (for electric cars), will also help control electricity use in the future.
<h2>A boost for the industry?</h2>
The ending of generous feed-in tariffs is likely to modestly encourage the solar PV industry. This is because many existing systems have a rating of only 1.5 kilowatts (kW), which could not have been increased without loss of the generous feed-in tariff.
Many householders will now choose to increase the size of their PV system to 5-10kW – in effect a new system given the disparity in average PV sizing between then and now.
A new large-scale PV market is also opening on commercial rooftops. Many businesses have daytime electrical needs that are better matched to solar availability than are domestic dwellings.
This allows businesses to consume the large amounts of the power their panels produce and hence minimise high commercial electricity tariffs. The constraining factors in this market are often not technical or economic, and include the fact that many businesses rent from landlords and tend to have short terms for investment. Business models are being developed to circumvent these constraints.
The rooftop PV market also now has large potential in competing with retail electricity prices. The total cost of a domestic 10kW PV system is about A$15,000. Over a 25-year lifetime this would yield an energy cost of 7 c/kWh.
This is about one-quarter of the typical Australian retail electricity tariff, about half of the off-peak electricity tariff, and similar to the typical retail gas tariff. Rooftop PV delivers energy services to the home more cheaply than anything else and has the capacity to drive natural gas out of domestic and commercial markets.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are 9 million dwellings in Australia, and the floor area of new residential dwellings averaged 200 square metres over the past 20 years. Some of these dwellings are in multi-storey blocks, others have shaded roofs and, of course, south-facing roofs are less suitable than other orientations for PV.
However, if half the dwellings had one-third of their roofs covered in 20 percent efficient PV panels then 60 gigawatts (GW) could be accommodated. For perspective, this would cover 40 percent of Australian electricity demand. Commercial rooftops are a large additional market.
<h2>Solar getting big</h2>
Virtually all PV systems in Australia are roof-mounted. However, this is about to change because ground-mounted PV systems are becoming competitive with wind energy. We can see the falling cost of solar in the Queensland Solar 120 scheme, the Australian Capital Territory wind and PV reverse auctions and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency Large Scale Solar program , which all point to the declining cost of PV and wind.
Together, wind and PV constitute virtually all new generation capacity in Australia and half of the new generation capacity installed worldwide each year.
The total cost of a 10-50 megawatt PV system (1,000 times bigger than a 10kW system) is in the range A$2,100/kW (AC). A 25-year lifetime yields an energy cost of 8 c/kWh. This is only a little above the cost of wind energy and is fully competitive with new coal or gas generators.
Hundreds of 10-50MW PV systems can be distributed throughout sunny inland Australia close to towns and high-capacity powerlines. Australia’s 2020 renewable energy target is likely to be met with a large PV component, in addition to wind.
Wide distribution of PV and wind from north Queensland to Tasmania minimises the effect of local weather and takes full advantage of the complementary nature of the two leading renewable energy technologies.
The declining cost of PV and wind, coupled with the ready availability of pumped hydro storage, allows a high renewable electricity fraction (70-100 percent) to be achieved at modest cost by 2030.
Andrew Blakers professor of engineering, Australian National University and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-blakers-3328" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Solar households to lose subsidies, but it’s a bright future for the industry

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Impact Investment Group (IIG) has launched a $100 million Solar Income Fund with exclusive rights to buy around $60 million of Australian solar infrastructure projects in varying stages of construction.
The Fund has a target to deliver investors a pre-tax Internal Rate of Return of approximately 10 percent and is led by IIG Head of Renewable Energy Infrastructure Lane Crockett and overseen by an independent board chaired by Ross Garnaut AO.
During the life of the fund the pool of assets are expected to reduce carbon emissions by around 1.2 million tonnes.
IIG Solar Income Fund Chair Ross Garnet said the fund aims to provide attractive and stable returns to investors with positive social and environmental benefits. 
Seed assets include the Karratha Solar Farm land the Mount Majura and Williamsdale solar farms located in the Australian Capital Territory. The Fund will only acquire fully operational solar farms and assets will have long-term contracted or regulated off-take arrangements with Australian governments and/or investment-grade commercial counterparties, and will typically range between 1MWp-30MWp in size.
For more information, <a href="https://www.impact-group.com.au/portfolio/solar-income-fund" target="_blank">click here</a>.
 
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Impact Investment Group launches $100m solar income fund

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A new report has found in 2015 Australia’s had the 7th highest number of solar PV systems installed in the world, equating to one solar panel per Australian resident.
The Clean Energy Australia 2015 report shows renewable energy provided 14.6 percent of Australia’s electricity in 2015 - enough to power 6.7 million homes, up on the 13.5 per cent of electricity delivered by renewables the year before despite a significant drop in hydro generation due to lower rainfall. 
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<ul>
<li>Wind and solar generation rose by more than 20 percent. </li>
<li>Rooftop solar power is now at 5 gigawatts capacity which is equivalent to a power station large enough to light up all the homes in Brisbane and Perth. </li>
<li>Five new wind farms were built in 2015 as well as eight solar farms larger than 1 megawatt capacity. </li>
<li>More than 14,000 people are employed in the renewable energy industry, which is still recovering from the 5000 jobs that were lost (one in four) between 2011-12 and 2014-15.</li>
</ul>
For more information, or to download the report, click <a href="https://www.ren21.net/gsr" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
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