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Byron Shire
April 28, 2024

Tribute to Peter Pedals, founder of Rainbow Power Company

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Rainbow Power Company founder, Peter ‘Pedals’ van der Wyk (left). Photo supplied

It is with great sadness that the Rainbow Power family shares the news of the passing of our founder, Peter ‘Pedals’ van der Wyk. 

Pete was a true pioneer of the renewable energy industry. 

Author of the seminal work on home made energy systems, Energy From Nature, his passion for renewable energy was a constant part of his life. 

From his pedal-powered juicer, which saw him feature on ‘That’s Incredible’ in the early ’80s to the foundation of his ‘dream child’ with two mates in the late ’80s. 

That dream child was Rainbow Power Company. Long before the Clean Energy Council, Peter helped produce the first off-grid solar accreditation, that gave many titans of the industry their first taste of renewable energy. 

Even after retiring, he continued to pursue his passion, coming into Rainbow at least once a week to gather components for his latest project. 

He will be missed by all of the RPC family.  

♦ Pete’s obit supplied by Max Pike from Rainbow Power Company.


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3 COMMENTS

  1. Oh no!…Peter Pedals!
    He did the solar for my caravan before and after the 2017 flood…and was always there for technical support,any questions I had about solar on e mail.
    He was into many different and interesting subjects and really liked avocados.
    RIP Peter Pedals.

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