Sustainable Energy Association of Australia (SEA) welcomed the launch of Perth’s largest solar installation at Perth Zoo by Western Australian Environment Minister Bill Marmion.
The installation consisting of a 102m long solar pergola supporting a 146.5kW solar photovoltaic array of 452 Sunpower solar panels was funded by the Western Australian Government and the Australian Government through the Perth Solar City program.
Together with Stage One of the Perth Zoo project consisting of a series of solar installations across eight zoo buildings including the elephant barn, reptile house, conference, reception, retail, operations and workshops totalling 90.9kW, the combined 237kW solar array would provide about one-third of Perth Zoo’s current energy needs and save the zoo more than $100,000 a year in energy costs.
Perth Zoo will be using all electricity produced from the solar arrays for its own needs on-site.
SEA chief adviser Professor Ray Wills, a guest speaker at the launch said the project will prove that a large enterprise will be able to supply much of its own carbon-free electricity just with sunshine. He added that the Perth Zoo, with more than 600,000 visitors annually was a great place for the State with the most sunshine to be showcasing solar solutions.
According to Prof Wills, the project demonstrates that government buildings, community centres and businesses can better manage energy use and generate electricity for their own use, minimising the impact of the inevitable future rises in electricity prices. With electricity prices rising all around Australia, the case for householders and businesses installing solar to generate their own electricity just gets better, he added.
The installation consisting of a 102m long solar pergola supporting a 146.5kW solar photovoltaic array of 452 Sunpower solar panels was funded by the Western Australian Government and the Australian Government through the Perth Solar City program.
Together with Stage One of the Perth Zoo project consisting of a series of solar installations across eight zoo buildings including the elephant barn, reptile house, conference, reception, retail, operations and workshops totalling 90.9kW, the combined 237kW solar array would provide about one-third of Perth Zoo’s current energy needs and save the zoo more than $100,000 a year in energy costs.
Perth Zoo will be using all electricity produced from the solar arrays for its own needs on-site.
SEA chief adviser Professor Ray Wills, a guest speaker at the launch said the project will prove that a large enterprise will be able to supply much of its own carbon-free electricity just with sunshine. He added that the Perth Zoo, with more than 600,000 visitors annually was a great place for the State with the most sunshine to be showcasing solar solutions.
According to Prof Wills, the project demonstrates that government buildings, community centres and businesses can better manage energy use and generate electricity for their own use, minimising the impact of the inevitable future rises in electricity prices. With electricity prices rising all around Australia, the case for householders and businesses installing solar to generate their own electricity just gets better, he added.
20.07.2012
