You might not be able to see them from the street, but a new addition to St Richard Anglican Church’s roof is helping create a more sustainable future for the community.

Sixty-five solar panels have been installed on the Church’s roof as part of a partnership between AnglicareSA, the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide, and the St Richard Anglican Church parish.

The installation of the solar panels was part of AnglicareSA’s award-winning Community Solar Project, which was established in 2020 when AnglicareSA and its housing arm, Believe Housing Australia, partnered with 369 Labs to install solar panels across its community housing portfolio.

Through this collaboration, AnglicareSA funds the cost of rooftop solar panel systems, providing program participants with access to significantly reduced energy tariff rates when the system is generating energy.

Excess solar energy generated from rooftop solar installations is either sold back to the grid or channelled through to other participants whose properties are unsuitable for solar panels. As a result, these Community Solar Program participants can access reduced energy rates without the installation of a solar system on their own roof.

 

 

AnglicareSA Manager, Mission and Anglican Community Engagement, Ben Falcon, said providing the parish with an opportunity to join the Community Solar Program was just one example of how organisations with shared values could come together to benefit the wider community.

“We see AnglicareSA as part of the same Anglican community, so if we are looking at doing community work, the first thing we consider is if we can do it with Anglican parishes or schools,” Ben said.

“They want to be involved and do something beyond being a part of our governance, so whenever there is an opportunity to do that, we try to make it happen.

“This has come to fruition out of the fact that we have direct relationships with parishes and the Diocese.”

The Anglican Diocese of Adelaide has been involved in the Community Solar Program in the past, with the initiative closely aligning with their vision of “Caring for Creation and Each Other”.

In 2024, a fundraiser with St Peter’s Cathedral, through which AnglicareSA matched dollar-for-dollar donations made through the church, raised $47,500 for the Community Solar Program.

Marianne Gillard, Ministry Support Officer for the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide, said the trial gave the parish the opportunity to contribute missionally and help households on low to moderate incomes.

“As part of our regular discussions around parish community engagement, we were looking for a way to put into action the parish and Diocese’s desire to contribute,” Marianne said.

“The Diocese wishes to acknowledge the Lockleys parish for having such a missional heart to donate their excess solar to others who might need extra support to benefit.”

Depending on the project’s success, AnglicareSA and the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide are exploring other parishes that could benefit.