Powering research at Synchrotron

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Saving Australia’s largest nuclear organisation $2 million through solar solutions

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) is the home of cutting-edge atomic research designed to improve human health, save lives, build our industries and protect the environment.

Its Australian Synchrotron in Clayton, Victoria, is one of Australia’s most significant pieces of scientific infrastructure.

The challenge

The Australian Synchrotron facility, which works with electrons accelerated almost to the speed of light, has huge energy requirements. So ANSTO needed a big solution to manage its energy costs, power crucial research and meet its ambitious sustainability goals.

RACV Solar is powering research at Synchrotron

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The solution

We recommended a 1.59MW rooftop solar system, one of the largest in the state, with over 3,000 panels designed to sit on the rooftops of ANSTO’s facility within the Monash University precinct.

Our team purpose-built the panels to suit the unique environment, across the Australian Synchrotron building, the Australian Synchrotron guesthouse and the environmentally controlled storage facility.

Complex engineering and design
Hardware selection
Performance guarantee
3D modelling
Installation of 1.59MW rooftop solar system
Monitoring and maintenance

"This investment in renewable technology is just one way ANSTO can meet its own sustainability goals, while also acting as a buffer against increasing energy overheads in the future."

- Professor Michael James, Director, ANSTO’s Australian Synchrotron

Aerial view of solar panels fitted on buildings of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.

Aerial view of solar panels fitted on the roof of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.

Aerial view of solar panelling on the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)

Aerial view of solar panelling on the roof of Holmesglen Institute

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Key numbers*

Carbon savings

1,680 tonnes of carbon abated per year

Savings

$2 million savings over five years

Energy savings

2 million kWh per year saved

20% reduction

in grid electricity dependence by 2035

Solar panels

3,122 solar panels

System capacity

1.59 megawatt system

^{Savings are projected numbers. *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.}