Five minutes with... Jasper Webster- Pingala’s Project Coordinator

Jasper Webster graduated from UNSW with a Bachelor of Engineering specialising in Renewable Energy, and joined Pingala in 2024 as a Project Coordinator. We caught up with him to talk about rooftops, regulations, and why he chose the community energy path.

Jasper, many UNSW renewable energy graduates head to big energy companies. What made you choose a career in community energy with Pingala?

"During my degree, I kept learning about all these amazing solar technologies, but I was also aware that huge chunks of the population can't access any of it. Renters, apartment dwellers, people in social housing - they're locked out through no fault of their own. Working at Pingala means I can actually help solve that problem rather than just designing systems for people who already have access."

What does a typical day look like?

"There's no such thing as typical! One day I might be assessing a roof for solar potential - orientation, shading, structural capacity. The next I'm working on regulatory paperwork. Then there's community meetings where I explain the technical stuff in language that doesn't sound like an engineering textbook. The variety is what I love about it."

What are some key considerations when assessing a potential site?

"There's a whole checklist! First is orientation and shading - north-facing is ideal, but we can work with east or west. We identify what might cast shadows: trees, buildings, chimneys. Roof type matters too - metal roofs are straightforward, but tiled roofs need different approaches. Terracotta tiles are beautiful but fragile, so we plan mounting carefully.

Structural capacity is critical, especially with older buildings. Solar panels add around 300-400kg, so we verify the structure can handle it. And we always check for asbestos on older buildings - the Clean Energy Council prohibits installing on asbestos roofs, so if we find it, we discuss removal or over-cladding options with the owners. Every site is different, which keeps the work interesting!"

What's been most rewarding about the work?

"Honestly? It's been great to see results benefiting real people in the community. The USDN social housing projects, for example - these are buildings where residents face serious cost-of-living pressures, and we're helping bring solar benefits to them. Doing technical work knowing it directly helps people who need it most - that's pretty special."

What are you excited about for Pingala in 2026?

"More projects, bigger installations, hopefully some innovation in how we approach multi-residential buildings. I'm particularly excited about expanding our work with social housing and housing cooperatives. There's so much potential to make solar accessible to communities that have been left behind in the clean energy transition. We're just getting started."

Interested in using your technical skills for community benefit? Pingala welcomes volunteers and potential team members from all backgrounds. You can register your interest on our website or reach out to volunteer@pingala.org.au