Mary Aldred, MP for Monash (left) and Colleen May, Director of The Victorian Homeless Fund (right). Source: The Victorian Homeless Fund, LinkedIn
Content Sponsored by GoodWe Australia
GoodWe builds energy technology that supports everyday life, and sometimes that means helping families rebuild theirs. That is why we are proud to partner with Six Star Plus and The Victorian Homeless Fund (VHF) to donate and install solar and battery storage for homes that give people safety, stability, and a genuine, fresh start.
In December, VHF celebrated the opening of a new home in the Latrobe Valley, made possible through the collective efforts of partners and supporters. Built by the teams at Sherridon Homes and Brilley Co, and now under the care of Women’s Property Initiatives, the four-bedroom home will provide stability for a family of five who have experienced significant hardship due to family violence. VHF also acknowledged the generous funding support from Loy Yang B Power Station and Alinta Energy, as well as the Payton Foundation Ltd, for providing the land on which the home was built. Mary Aldred, MP for Monash, officially opened the home and spoke about how collaboration can help reduce homelessness, which is exactly the kind of shared commitment this project represents.
Why solar and storage matter for donated homes
From GoodWe’s perspective, this is the point where clean energy stops being an abstract policy discussion and becomes something deeply practical. A safe home matters, but so does the ability to afford living in it. Energy bills can place real pressure on households, especially families already navigating hardship, and the last thing anyone needs is another unpredictable expense. As Colleen May, Director of VHF, puts it, “If we all give a little, together we can change lives”. Solar generation, paired with the right battery storage, helps reduce running costs, increases day-to-day comfort, and adds resilience during high-demand periods. It is a practical way to make a donated home even more supportive over the long term.
Six Star Plus: Expertise that turns intent into outcomes
This is also where Six Star Plus shines. Plenty of organisations can talk about community impact, but the work only becomes real when skilled people design, install, and commission systems that perform reliably for years. Six Star Plus brings the experience, the care, and the attention to detail that ensure these systems do what they are supposed to do, quietly and consistently. They also bring the right attitude for projects like this, where the goal is not simply compliance or a tidy install, but a solution that genuinely improves a family’s day-to-day life.
The Latrobe Valley system details
For the Latrobe Valley home, Six Star Plus delivered a robust system suited to a busy household, using quality components and a configuration designed for real-world demand. The system includes 10.56 kW of solar, delivered through 24 RISEN RSM108-9-440N panels, paired with a GoodWe GW9900-ET-20 9.9 kW inverter, plus a GM3000. In practical terms, that means strong daytime generation, an efficient conversion setup, and a great foundation for adding storage in a way that maximises self-consumption and value.
What’s next in 2026 and beyond
Six Star Plus and GoodWe have five projects in the pipeline with VHF, with at least one home to be built in 2026, with hopes that another two will also begin. For GoodWe, this kind of ongoing pipeline matters because it turns goodwill into a program, and it turns a program into lasting outcomes for more families. It also allows us to plan properly, refine delivery, and ensure each new home benefits from the lessons and wins of the last one.
ESA energy storage for future homes
Looking ahead, we are especially excited about what the next stage will deliver. All new homes in the program will include GoodWe ESA Energy Storage, which means families will not only generate clean electricity, but also store it for use when it matters most, including evenings, peak periods, and higher-cost times. Storage helps households get more value from their solar, reduces grid reliance, and supports comfort through better load management. It is also a strong step towards making these homes future-ready as energy pricing, electrification, and household needs continue to evolve.
A regional milestone with a statewide message
VHF highlighted that this Latrobe Valley project marked an important milestone as their first regional build. That matters because regional communities often face sharper housing pressures, fewer services, and longer pathways to support. When a regional build succeeds, it proves that collaboration can travel, and it reinforces that every Victorian family deserves the same chance at safety and stability, no matter their postcode.
A long-term partnership, powered by people
For GoodWe, this partnership captures what the energy transition should look like when it meets real life. Technology plays a role, but people make it happen, and this project is powered by people at every step, from the builders and funders to the housing providers and installers. We are proud to work alongside Six Star Plus, who bring the expertise and heart needed to turn a good idea into a real outcome, and we are proud to support The Victorian Homeless Fund as they expand this work into 2026 and beyond. When solar and storage help keep a home running comfortably and affordably, the impact goes far beyond kilowatts. It supports dignity, stability, and the chance to focus on rebuilding, rather than simply getting by.
To find out more about The Victorian Homeless Fund and make a donation, please visit www.vichomelessfund.org.au
