Solar companies join with NGOs on solar leasing, referral rewards

The push to make rooftop solar affordable to more Australian households gained new momentum this week, with the launch of two new solar leasing products onto the market. But the interesting thing about these two new schemes is that they are both the result of a collaboration between rooftop solar companies and green NGOs.

The first, dubbed Every Rooftop, is a joint effort from leading solar developer Ingenero and not-for-profit group Green Cross Australia. Based on a US model that has been mafe ready for rollout in Australia, the scheme offers homeowners who otherwise might not be able to afford to have a rooftop PV system installed, the opportunity to lease solar panels.

The Every Rooftop website, which is set to launch soon, incorporates a referral system which will see members rewarded with a $100 gift card for successful sign-ups. Green Cross Australia will also receive a commission for each sale, which will go towards education programs and environmental disaster resilience schemes.

Green Cross Australia CEO Mara Bún says the Australian market is poised to shift to a leasing model, because it takes unreliable government subsidies out of the equation and makes solar more affordable for families.

“Currently nearly one million Australian homes have solar power – a number worth celebrating,” Bún said. “Under a moderate growth scenario, the Australian Energy Market Operator expects this number to grow eight-fold by 2031. Every Rooftop will facilitate this.”

Meanwhile, Sungevity Australia has jumped on board with the Australian organisers of Earth Hour, becoming business partner for the latter’s new campaign calling for households to switch to renewable electricity sources for good.

Sungevity, which already offers a no-deposit, two year, pay-as-you-go solar option, says it is keen to introduce innovative solar finance options, including leasing.

But the main new push from the rooftop solar company will be through its online business, and a focus on growth through word of mouth. Online referrals – for which customers will rewarded with $125 a pop – are to be “the heart and soul of our business,” says Sungevity Australia managing director Nick Lake.

Interestingly, the company has also launched a fundraising platform au.sungevity.org, where charities and registered not-for-profit organisations encourage supporters to go solar and receive $150 every time one does.

“If a charity wants to champion our business, they will benefit,” says Lake, who adds that his company hopes to give away tens of thousands of dollars in the first year of the charity program.

Sungevity Australia is also set to roll out the iQuote system developed by its US parent company, which uses satellite images of household rooftops to achieve greater accuracy in power production estimates.