Kogarah Council in the southern suburbs of Sydney has installed solar energy technologies and devices at its work depot with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative is in line with Council’s Sustainability Plan, which sets the goal for Kogarah to become more environmentally sustainable with its energy use. The project also contributes to the Federal Government’s goal to draw 9,500 gigawatt hours of electricity from renewable sources by the year 2010.
As part of the Kogarah Council Works Depot Solar Roof Project, Council installed 216 solar modules on the roof of its works depot earlier this year. This is believed to be the biggest photovoltaic solar system installed by any council on its own buildings.
Photovoltaic cells are made up of two layers of silicon containing special chemicals. Sunlight acts to charge the electrons in the silicon layers, creating an electrical current.
The Kogarah Works Depot system can generate an average of 150 kilowatt hours of 100 per cent clean electricity for daily use. Council is using this electricity to run the works depot, with any excess fed back to the grid supply.
Prior to the installation of the photovoltaic cells, the average annual electricity consumption at the Works Depot was around 77,000 kilowatt hours, costing Council $12,000 per year and resulting in the production of about 80,000 kilograms of C02.
Kogarah’s Manager Council Works, Frank Tambosis, said installing solar panels as the major source of electricity at the Works Depot has not only contributed to the goal of becoming carbon neutral, but is ideal and cost effective.
“Maintenance costs are minimal and the
25 year warranty provides attractive insurance,” he said.
As well as installing the solar panels, Council has also retrofitted the depot with energy efficient devices, such as solar hot water systems.
“The entire project aims to achieve a reduction in consumption of electricity from fossil fuels,” Frank Tambosis said. “By generating clean, green energy we will ultimately offset greenhouse gas emissions and achieve a carbon neutral status for the Kogarah Council Works Depot.
“Through the project, we will also be promoting and demonstrating sustainability in a major industrial area of Kogarah, by providing the positive economic and environmental impacts of integrating solar, energy efficiency and smart metering technologies.
“This will create awareness and foster sustainable behaviour among staff, visitors and the wider community, through the physical visual reminders of solar generated electricity. Allowing schools, TAFEs and universities to actively participate and visit the site will also set an example for our future generations, thus strengthening the message Council is sending out in its efforts to achieve a sustainable tomorrow.”
For further information contact Violeta Becvarovski at Kogarah’s Department of Assets and Services , telephone (02) 9330 9448.
