Media Release: 7 December 2009

Solar specialist Ingenero has been chosen by Woolworths Limited to install solar power systems on the roofs of two Woolworths service stations in the ACT. The installations are an example of a growing trend towards renewable energy by business and industry.

Solar installations of this kind are relatively new and are predicted to grow in popularity. The ACT is the first jurisdiction in Australia to provide a gross feed-in tariff from solar power systems that extends to businesses like Woolworths, encouraging the uptake of renewable energy in installations up to 30 kilowatts in size.

“Australian business is on a rapid learning curve with renewable energy technology. These two systems give Woolworths the opportunity to compare the relative merits of different types of solar technology in what is the first installation of its kind in the ACT,” said Ingenero CEO Steve McRae.

“The leadership shown by Woolworths is far-sighted. Those organisations making an early move to solar and other renewable technologies recognise the competitive advantage that renewable energy can create for an organisation.”

Ingenero will install one 30 kilowatt crystalline panel system and one 30 kilowatt thin film system on the service stations, allowing a large-scale comparison of design detail and power output.

“Our in-house engineers presented a range of technologies to meet Woolworths’ stringent purchasing criteria for solar power, including crystalline and thin film solutions. Our solutions offer Woolworths the ability to compare different technologies in a real-world environment,” Mr McRae said.