Solar Depot wins council tender to help Fleurieu businesses to go green SOLAR Depot has won a potentially lucrative tender to offer close to 4000 businesses in the Victor Harbor, Yankalilla and Alexandrina council areas a chance to go green. The company has been selected solar systems supplier to the City of Victor Harbor's Commercial Purchase of Renewable Energy Program (C-PREP 2), beating four other contenders. The program follows the council's original renewable energy program that was rolled out to more than 5000 households in 2009/10 by then tender winner ZEN Home Energy Systems. Solar Depot managing director Scott Limbert said the endorsement and potential revenues would add a good boost to the business. The tender is open-ended so it's an unknown outcome. But we would be happy even if 500 of the businesses take up the offer. Businesses are being offered systems ranging from 3 kilowatts to 10 kilowatts onwards for a price package starting at $5,334 to $13,000, respectively. Mr Limbert said the company was not a big discounter, but the prices offered were competitive and had the benefit of the council's due diligence. The listed prices for the 3 kW and 10 kW systems are $6,300 to $14,000, respectively, he said. Solar Depot has carved a niche for itself in the commercial space with new contracts this year to install solar systems on the premises of the state's largest private operator of Commonwealth-funded aged-care facilities, Padman Healthcare. Mr Limbert said being a southern-based business, its proven track-record in the commercial space and commitment to local community investment, including opening a new store at Victor Harbor, worked in its favour. Solar Depot was established in 2006 by founder Troy Ryan who gets the panels manufactured to his specification in China. Interested businesses pay $110 to the council to register for the deal, which will cover tender costs and go into a Renewable Energy Fund to finance other green energy projects. City of Victor Harbor Mayor Graham Philp said the household program had resulted in millions of dollars of power savings and a significant reduction in carbon emissions. 'The strong support of our neighbouring councils, Alexandrina and Yankalilla, has been integral in the Fleurieu-wide roll out of this program which has the potential to make a significant change to the region's carbon footprint," he said. The first information session on the CPREP 2 program will be held on October 3 at the Victor Harbor Bowling Club.