Overview:
Westernport Water has a pledge to create a renewable energy target for its waste water treatment plant in Cowes Philip Island.
All water corporations are tasked to become net zero by 2050 or earlier. The reason for this is that the water sector is seen as a leader in the emission reduction journey.
In terms of the government's emissions, the water sector is a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
There was a lack of “roof real estate” for the site to integrate the 100kW system, so certain stipulations had to be adhered to for the ground mount site.
Firstly, the site had to be leveled as it is in a paddock. Greenwood engaged with local civil workers to lift the area for drainage, and compact the ground with crushed rock with suitable drainage run off.
The site is also close to the ocean, so salt was an issue. We needed to ensure it was robust to be able to cope with the salt concentration in the air. As well as lightning protection to eliminate the potential for electrical surge through the system.
Our Distinct Approach:
Greenwood engineered, designed and constructed as a turn key solution, the 99.68kW PV system with the assistance of local civil works operators.
The site had 470 tonnes of class 2 crushed rock base bought in and compacted as a raised platform.
Greenwood selected Canadian Solar Panels 445W – Canadian Solar are a Tier 1 manufacture of PV modules.
Fronius Inverters were also selected, a market leading inverter manufacturer which was selected due to sizing and to continue the organisations monitoring fleet platform.
Greenwood manufactured PVDB and SCA extension switchboards to meet the Westernport Water Switchboard specification requirements complete with surge protection devices, grid protection and generator interlocking system.
System Design:
224 X Canadian Solar 445W Tier 1 Panels
3 X Fronius Eco 27 Inverters
Gridsafe GS100 PVDB
Clenergy Solar Terrace II Racking System
"Greenwood has helped create and make this a reality for Westernport Water, and its been a fantastic project to work on collaboratively for a shared vision of a more sustainable future"
Meg Humphrys
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The Outcome:
The 100kW ground mount system that Greenwood has installed on site in Cowes is Westernport Waters first step into reducing emissions through solar energy.
The system will assist with the aerators on site to offset some of their carbon emissions.
Monitoring for the site is done through Fronius Solar Web and the maintenance consists of yearly visits where Greenwood’s testing division will check all electrical connections and structural aspects and cleanliness of the panels.
Megan Humphrys from Westernport water -
“It is important that the public sector service providers take a lead and show the community what can be done with renewable energy and take responsibility for the large amount of energy that we consume. We need to be responsible for that, and also contribute to an increased stability in the grid as well, so the less energy we draw off the grid, the more stable it becomes, providing a greater community benefit.”
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