Australia, Projects, Renewables, Solar, Solar Projects

REC Solar helping communities rebuild lives after Black Summer bushfires

After witnessing the destruction of the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires, REC Solar felt compelled to help Australian communities recover and the REConstruct initiative was born, writes Gavin Dennett.

Australians will never forget the horror of the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires, when infernos raged across the nation and 24 million hectares of land was scorched. Tragically, 33 lives were lost during the devastation, and 2448 homes were destroyed, displacing thousands of families and traumatising entire communities.

It’s estimated up to three billion animals also perished during the bushfires.

Almost three years on, the Black Summer recovery continues as regional communities rebuild shattered lives. Standing alongside the people of these townships and lending a helping hand is REC Solar, which launched its REConstruct initiative in 2021 to deliver free solar systems to 15 community organisations around Australia.

“REC Solar devised the REConstruct project to help out communities devastated by the Black Summer bushfires, and to address the problem of a lack of communication during the disaster,” says Paul Scerri, director of sales, Australia and New Zealand, REC Solar (pictured above, right).

“These community halls were safe assembly areas during the bushfires, but they couldn’t reach out and communicate with the outside world.

“In the aftermath of the devastation, they had no way of keeping food cool that was brought in from the cities to help them get through the first couple of days.

“We felt compelled to do something, and what better way for a solar company to help than to provide renewable power.

Clifton Creek Primary School in Victoria was completely destroyed in the Black Summer bushfires. Photo: Supplied.

“We found some premium partners and were able to donate solar systems to not-for-profit community organisations in bushfire affected areas. We got to work launching the program and invited not-for-profit organisations, schools, sporting clubs and community halls.

“We were particularly interested in community halls used as safe-haven gathering areas during the bushfires and offered them premium REC Alpha Series solar systems and inverters to provide power independence that will stand the test of time and survive the rugged environment in regional Australia.”

During the process of installing solar systems as part of the REConstruct program, Scerri and his team immersed themselves in regional communities, getting to know the people who live there and listening to countless inspiring stories of Black Summer heroism and resilience.

“We had some fantastic success with these community groups, and their acts of heroism were incredible to save lives and properties during the bushfires, something most city folk could never comprehend,” Scerri tells EcoGeneration.

“We got out there and deployed solar systems in regional Victoria, regional NSW, regional Queensland and Kangaroo Island, of which half of the island was burnt.

Clifton Creek Primary School principal Sue Paul with REC Solar’s Paul Scerri. Photo: Supplied.

“These not-for-profit community groups don’t have much income so we are helping them reduce their power bills so they can save money and spend it on upgrading their facilities and doing community work.

“It was a rewarding and satisfying project for us.

“Clifton Creek Primary School, in Victoria, was the most emotional. The principal, Sue Paul (pictured in photo at top, left), has her heart and soul in the school and when it burnt to the ground she was devastated.

“She didn’t expect the school to be recommissioned, but it was rebuilt from the ground up.

“It is now an ecofriendly school, but they didn’t have enough funds for a solar system so REC Solar and our partners donated one to help them reach their net-zero goal.

“I witnessed Sue’s emotional journey. Hearing about their bravery and the rebuild has been satisfying.

“Our organisation felt this was the best program we had launched around the world. We have done work elsewhere, but this was the most satisfying.”

The REC Alpha Series features sustainable panels with recycled silicon. All up, 400 panels were donated in the REConstruct program, totalling 150kW.

“Ours are probably the most sustainable panels manufactured in the world,” says Scerri.

“We process the silicon in Norway, which is a 90 per cent renewable power grid, and we use recycled silicon for our cells. We are the only solar panel manufacturer that recycles silicon for our panels.

“Our ethical sourcing and sustainable manufacturing process in Singapore gives us a great product we were able to donate to these community groups.

The rebuilt Clifton Creek Primary School with rooftop PV panels from REC Solar. Photo: Supplied.

“We take corporate citizenship very seriously. REConstruct has been a great example of the lengths we are willing to go to give back to the community.”

Scerri says knowing regional community groups are better equipped to communicate during any future natural disasters brings him immense satisfaction.

“Having an independent power source from REC Solar panels allows these communities to have a communication facility that will function if power poles are burnt down, which was the first thing that went during the Black Summer bushfires, leaving communities cut off from mains power,” he says.

“They had very little contingencies for off-grid and independent power sources so we have been able to deliver that, with many of them also receiving batteries.

“One of our partners, Fronius, donated several batteries to regions such as Mallacoota, in Victoria, one of the regions hardest hit during the Black Summer. Now they are totally independent.

“Conversations are underway for another wave of REConstruct. We’ve seen this year’s east coast floods as another climate-change influenced disaster, which is an opportunity for corporate citizens to step up to help out as part of an ongoing commitment to communities of Australia.

“We feel it’s our duty.”

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