Sustainability boss to head up Solar Victoria

article-body

Stan Krpan, currently head of Sustainability Victoria, has been appointed the inaugural CEO of Solar Victoria.

As head of the agency, Krpan will be in charge of implementing the state government’s $1.2 billion solar homes package, which aims to reduce household energy costs and boost the renewable energy supply by rolling out solar panels, solar hot water or solar batteries to 770,000 homes over the next decade.

Since 2012, Krpan has been CEO of Sustainability Victoria, a government agency responsible for delivery of programs covering issues like climate change, renewable energy, energy efficiency and integrated waste management. In 2017 he spent several months in charge of the Victorian Cladding Taskforce investigating flammable building materials.

He previously held senior roles at WorkSafe, and is chair of Infoxchange, a social enterprise that uses technology for social justice.

The move to Solar Victoria is a good fit, as Krpan led its initial establishment as a dedicated business unit under Sustainability Victoria. From July 1 it will be a standalone entity in the Environment, Land, Water, and Planning portfolio.

He noted that the organisation was already having an impact.

“In less than a year since Solar Victoria was established, we have seen the huge demand for household solar energy by Victorians,” he said.

Sustainability Victoria’s Director Corporate Services Carl Muller will act as interim CEO while a full recruitment process is underway.

Sustainability Victoria Chair Heather Campbell thanked Krpan for his contribution to the organisation.

“Under Stan’s leadership, Sustainability Victoria delivered Australia’s first state-wide waste infrastructure plan, growing investment in waste and resource recovery infrastructure, market development and education to their highest levels,” she said.

“After the Paris Accord in 2015, Sustainability Victoria forged strong climate change and energy programs to help deliver the government’s net zero carbon target by 2050, including our world first government led climate pledge program, TAKE2, energy efficiency and zero net carbon building programs, community renewable power hubs and of course, Solar Victoria.”

The solar homes program will cut Victoria’s carbon emissions by almost four million tonnes, says the government — the equivalent of taking one million of Victoria’s 4.6 million cars off the road. Household solar is expected to generate 12.5% of Victoria’s 40% target for renewable energy by 2025.

From 1 July 2019, Solar Victoria will offer Victorians zero-interest loans to install solar with no upfront costs, as well as solar panels for 50,000 rental properties and 10,000 solar batteries.