831kW Commercial Solar Project In Tasmania Officially Opened

Image: Beon Energy Solutions

One of Tasmania’s largest commercial solar power projects has been completed and is ready to put a major dent in locally-owned freight company SRT Logistics’ power bills.

Installed under a solar PV pilot between Aurora Energy, Beon Energy Solutions and SRT Logistics, the 831kW project will generate more than 1 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity a year.

Formally launched yesterday, the project involved 2,546 solar panels and is spread over SRT’s two distribution centers in Tasmania – one in Launceston and the other in Devonport.

SRT Logistics CEO Robert Miller CEO said it was a sound business decision for his company to install solar panels.

Tasmania’s Minister for Energy, Guy Barnett, welcomed the opening of the project and also mentioned Tasmania’s solar feed in tariff review that recently kicked off; but said large commercial customers such as SRT won’t be impacted one way or the other as their pricing arrangements are negotiated on a commercial basis and not regulated.

Currently Tasmania’s  feed in tariff pays a rate of 8.541 c/kWh for small-scale systems installed after 30 August 2013. The results of the review will be implemented by 1 January 2019.

Minister Barnett also used the launch event to give the state’s “Battery of the Nation” aspirations another plug.

“We believe Tasmania is in a unique position to become the renewable energy battery of the nation, and we have a Plan to make this a reality,” he said. “Building on our current renewable energy assets will create jobs, stimulate the economy, and most importantly provide renewable, reliable, and affordable energy.”

On a related note, just a reminder for households and businesses in Tasmania wanting to go solar but need a hand with finding the up-front funds required. We mentioned back in May the Tasmanian Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme (TEELS) program has been extended until April 30 next year. Eligible purchases include solar power systems and solar hot water installations.

For households, the minimum finance value is $500 and the maximum value $10,000 (36 months interest-free). A 6kW solar system currently costs between $7,000 and $9,000, assuming good quality components are used.

For small businesses (electricity usage of less than 150 MWh per annum), the minimum finance available is $500, with a maximum of $40,000 (3 years to 5 years interest-free). Just to give a ballpark figure, small commercial solar in Australia tends to cost around $1,000 – $1,300 per kilowatt installed.