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Penguin Parade Visitor Centre saves 290 tonnes of carbon p.a.

Aerial view of geometric building fitted with solar panels at Penguin Parade.
RACV

February 01, 2024

Helping the Penguin Parade Visitor Centre care for the environment

This project was initially awarded to another contractor, who was forced to withdraw when they realised they couldn’t deliver an installation of this complexity.

After seeing our track record and how we could use 3D modelling software to design the solar system before the visitor centre was even built, the construction company turned to us.

We carefully investigated the site, which was subject to high levels of sea mist and strong winds (two years earlier, a twister caused significant damage to the roof sheets on the building). In light of this, we decided to engineer a solution tailored to the site.

We used panels with the highest wind loading and salt mist rating on the market. They were powder coated black, including the framing system, to blend into the aesthetic of the building’s stunning architecture. We also chose a particularly robust panel mounting system that is certified to cope with the demanding coastal weather conditions at Phillip Island.

The finished result is one that our team is justifiably proud of. Working through the wind and freezing conditions in peak winter, we were able to deliver this project safely, and to the highest standard.


Key numbers*

System capacity

206 kW capacity system 

Energy production

1.5-gigawatt-hours of electricity per year (enough energy to power 250 homes)

Carbon savings

290 tonnes of carbon saved every year

Components used

Solar panels

666 x Trina Honey 310 W mono panels

Inverters

3 x Fronius 27 kW

1 x Fronius 25 kW

2 x Fronius 20 kW inverters

*The statistics for RACV Solar customers have been calculated based on the following assumptions: the site's prior electricity consumption and tariffs, 3D modelling software for commercial and complicated residential sites (identifying shade/structures that impact performance), local sunlight irradiance and climate data, Victorian grid electricity emissions intensity factor of 1.12 kg CO2 eq / kWh, and average home system size in Victoria.