Monash University installs 135 kW solar system

Monash University has improved its overall sustainability through a mixture of energy-efficiency initiatives, behavioural change and renewable energy installations.

In July 2013, the university engaged EnviroGroup to install a 135 kW solar system using Yingli Solar’s high-efficiency 250 W multicrystalline panels on their Peninsula Campus Library.

Yingli secured the project through its installation partner EnviroGroup. “It was a competitive tender process and Monash University selected EnviroGroup and Yingli because of their ability to offer a solution which could guarantee a high-yielding annual outcome; and ongoing long-term support,” said Yingli Solar Commercial Director Daman Cole. A great deal of planning went into the system design and installation, which focused particularly on the layout of the PV system to minimise shading and maximise production throughout the whole year, as well as timing the installation within university holidays.

Yingli’s multicrystalline panels were chosen because of their proven ability to produce ongoing high-energy yields under the harsh conditions of the Australian climate, including at high temperatures. The system is expected to produce a nominal annual energy yield of 170 MWh, which is enough to power approximately 30 homes for a year.

“One of the key challenges of this project was to install the system during the university’s holiday period, which meant that EnviroGroup had to complete the project in 30 days. In order to fulfil the project in time, EnviroGroup had to plan and manage the process very carefully and, as a result, concluded the project ahead of schedule in mid-July,” said Cole.

The grid augmentation and protection were an extraordinary challenge, due to the utilities requirement to have three levels of protection between the system and the grid. The installation is said to be one of Victoria’s largest PV installations and the largest PV system connected to the United Energy distribution network (as at August 2013). The project took three weeks of installation in mid-June. The longest aspect of this installation was the grid application process which took over the months.

“Monash University is striving to lead the community towards a more sustainable environment by achieving high-level environmental objectives and targets. EnviroGroup are proud to have installed a state-of-the-art solar system that will play a major role in reducing the university’s carbon emissions and reducing electricity bills. We recommended Yingli’s multicrystalline panels because of their high-quality manufacturing and their long-term performance under harsh Australian conditions,” said EnviroGroup Chief Executive Cameron Munro. The project was managed and installed by EnviroGroup and its in-house team of engineers, electricians and installers.

Commenting on the lessons learnt from the project, Cole said, “The effectiveness of investing time into the development and preparation of a detailed project management plan, communicating the installation process before project commencement and providing daily updates to all related parties was key in making this process smooth for all teams concerned and ultimately the customer’s satisfaction.”