ECO KINETICS COMPLETES LARGEST SOLAR COMMERCIAL PROJECT IN AUSTRALIA

A GOLD Coast solar technology company has completed one of the largest solar panel projects on an Australian commercial property.

The undisclosed contract was for a property owned by Local Government Super (LGS) in the high-tech commercial zone at Macquarie Park near North Ryde in Sydney.

The solar panel project was partially funded by a grant from the Federal Government’s Green Building Fund (GBF).

Eco Kinetics managing director Edwin Cywinski, says the project is an example of what can be achieved to upgrade existing commercial properties to become renewable energy efficient.

“We were able to demonstrate a significantly better outcome by re-engineering the original concept being considered by the owner,” says Cywinski.

“Originally it was thought only 62 kwp of solar panels would be possible but our in-house engineering team came up with a solution which lifted this to 100 kwp, significantly improving electricity generation, efficiencies and reducing carbon emission rates.”

Eco-Kinetics is a subsidiary of ASX listed CBD Energy and designs and installs renewable energy equipment for domestic and commercial customers. CBD paid $13m for the company in February. Reflecting growing interest in solar energy, eco-Kinetics installs a solar energy system every 30 minutes.

Cywinski told Gold Coast Business News in October last year (see article here) that the company had achieved annual growth of 900 per cent and that it was headed toward revenues of around $50 million in the next 12 months.

LGS successfully applied for six GBF grants as part of its Sustainable Portfolio Program to upgrade the 1980s era office buildings in its portfolio to 5 star NABERS energy rating. LGS expects the payback period from the solar initiative will be less than 10 years.

Its energy reduction project for the Macquarie Park building included the installation of the eco- Kinetic solar panels, upgrades to base lighting, implementation of the Shaw Method of airconditioning and recalibration of the building management system.

The 100kwp solar panel project includes 555 photovoltaic modules and 99kW grid connected inverters installed on a purpose built frame on the roof of the building.

The solar panels will generate 134MW hours of electricity a year and save 142 tons of CO2 emissions each year.

The Macquarie Park building now sources 100 per cent of its base building energy from fully accredited green power and all new leases require tenants to source their power from green energy suppliers.