Service station rooftops become prime solar real estate
7th April 2010
Two large 30 kilowatt solar power systems are now feeding clean, renewable energy into the ACT power grid from the rooftops of Woolworths’ petrol stations. Brisbane based Solar specialist Ingenero was chosen by Woolworths Limited to install solar power systems at their service stations in the suburbs of Belconnen and Hume. Solar installations of this kind are a new phenomenon, stimulated by the advent of gross feed-in tariffs in the ACT and New South Wales. The ACT was the first Australian state or territory to encourage the uptake of solar power by ensuring 100% of the power from systems up to 30 kW in size is sold into the electricity grid for a premium price.
“Ingenero worked with Woolworths to install solar power systems that use two different technologies. While the systems have the same generation capacity, one uses crystalline panels and one uses thin film technology. It’s a great real-time, real-life test of solar technology and will give Woolworths and ourselves comparative data that will be put to use in our future solar installations,” said Steve McRae, CEO of Ingenero. “With both the ACT and NSW now buying solar power via a gross feed-in tariff, well-positioned rooftops are becoming valuable real estate. Woolworths are to be congratulated for showing leadership in the renewable energy market.”
