As Australians shake their heads at the prospect of another increase in electricity prices, a Victorian couple who have switched their home and business to 100 per cent renewable energy say they won’t pay a power bill for years.
Nick and Isabel Renter have installed a solar panel and battery system on their home and business. (Supplied: Nick Renter)
Nick and Isabel Renters ran a niche woollen mill at Timboon near Victoria’s Great Ocean Road and enjoyed an unexpected jump in trade during the COVID pandemic, as people stuck at home found more time to explore the world of knitting and other crafts.
But with the spike in trade came a need to upscale, and to do that they needed access to more electricity from the power grid.
That wasn’t possible for the pair, so they made the brave decision to relocate near Ballarat and re-establish their mill there.
“When we brought this property there was no infrastructure here, it wasn’t connected to the grid or anything and we thought, ‘Let’s investigate going off-grid,'” Mr Renters said.
Animal welfare, sustainability and local wool are the cornerstones of the Renters’s mill. (Supplied: GOR Woollen Mills)
No power bills for 10 yearsThe Renters’s GOR Woollen Mills has been operating solely on renewable energy since March last year.
Their house is also off-grid, with solar panels feeding into a battery system.
Batteries support running on 100 per cent renewable energy when the sun isn’t shining. (ABC Rural: Jane McNaughton)
Mr Renters said it cost the couple $75,000 to set up the two solar panel and battery systems.
But he said in the longer term, they were already saving money.
“The set-up sounds like a lot, but given Powercor was going to charge $70,000 just to connect our house to mains power, we are already ahead,” he said.
“It made sense for us to go off-grid.”
Mr Renters said operating through last winter, it worked really well.
“We are a two-person operation, so we’re able to be a little bit flexible, we manage what machines to turn on,” he said.
“But even in the depths of winter last year, the back-up generator only kicked on three times, for only like 5 to10 minutes — so it’s possible to do in Ballarat.
“We’ll have no power bills until the next 10 years or so, until the batteries need replacing, and with the price of power these days it was a no-brainer.”
Nick Renters with freshly processed wool fibre. (ABC Rural: Jane McNaughton)
Boutique yarnIn 2024, the couples’ mill processed more than two tonnes of yarn, sourced from their “pet” alpacas, as well as sheep from local farmers.
“We’ve got 25 of our own alpacas, both Huacaya and Suri breeds, in every colour from white through to true black,” Mr Renters said.
He said animal welfare, environmental sustainability and sourcing wool locally were the cornerstones of their business.
“A lot of our yarns literally have the name of the alpaca that the fibre was donated from,” Mr Renters said.
The Renters own 25 alpacas who live at the GOR Woollen Mills. (ABC Rural: Jane McNaughton)
The yarn is a mix of alpaca and merino fleece, from farms that prioritise animal welfare and do not practice mulesing.
“Certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RSW) are really important for us, because it’s a badge that we know someone has had a look at to say they look after their animals,” he said.
“We chose really soft alpaca and 18-micron merino wool, which makes a real difference to how it feels.
The soft fibre is spun to create pliable and strong yarn. (ABC Rural: Jane McNaughton)
“We can’t make cheap yarn, as we source the best fibre we can, and as a result it makes for some soft cosy knits.”
At the end of the day, the Renters aren’t interested in competing with mass-produced imported products, and want to educate the public about the benefits of quality, Australian-made wool.
“We can’t compete with overseas made $5 balls of wool, but that’s the price of 100 per cent local ingredients,” Mr Renters said.
GOR Woollen Mills also processes other farmers’ wool. (ABC Rural: Jane McNaughton.)