Solar Design And Installation Award Winners Announced For 2023

Under 100 kW – DomesticWinner – Philip Christian (Solpac Energy Solutions)Working with Solpac Energy Solutions, Philip installed two stacks of BYD HV batteries, each connected to a 5kW Fronius Gen24 inverter on a three-level building overlooking Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) and the Gladstone Harbour. Solpac's design objective was simple: to get as close to eliminating the $1,500 quarterly power bill as possible, while using only the available roof space and staying within the photovoltaic (PV) 2x oversize ruling for hybrid solar inverters.Under 100 kW – CommercialWinners – Matthew Linney & Joel Cronan (Iberdrola Australia), Mark Fanning (Flow Power)Working with Iberdrola Australia, Matthew and Joel designed and installed a designed a combined solar and EV charging solution for the Lismore Council. The structure used bifacial solar panels to generate electricity from the high reflected light in the car park as well as directly from the sun.The structure was also designed to reflect the shape of a butterfly and provide a habitat for the local, endangered Richmond Birdwing Butterfly, which had also been a focus of local environmental groups. The panels provided water collection for native plants and vines favoured by the butterflies, with a storage tank and reclaimed timber panels helping improve sustainability.Flow Power, teaming with Mark, designed and installed a 96.8 kWp (80 kVA) solar PV system on the Lake Mountain Alpine resort, to help manage the extreme seasonal load, and reduce carbon emissions and operating costs of the resort’s microgrid.Over 100 kWWinner – Sam Saada, Eddie Greco, Michael O'Mahony, Alex Musgrove, Joel Gilchrist, Veli Markovic & Pat Carne (Greenwood Solutions)Greenwood Solutions were contracted to design and install a solar system to help power the substantial pump electrical loads that a Victorian wastewater treatment plant experiences, reducing the plant's energy bills and carbon footprint. At the core of this pioneering venture lay the ingenious concept of harnessing solar energy through a floating PV system.Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Kane Thornton, said that this year's winners have demonstrated innovation and ingenuity, and the inherent flexibility of rooftop solar to meet the energy needs of Australian households and businesses.“The unique and innovative solutions showcased by our finalists prove that rooftop solar is the leading light of Australia’s clean energy future, and can be adapted to meet any needs from customers to slash their power bills, their carbon emissions, or both at same time.“The Clean Energy Council’s Solar Design and Installation Awards celebrates those in Australia’s flourishing solar installation and design industry who take these ideas to the next level.“I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to submit an entry.”For more information and images of the winning projects, visit the Clean Energy Council Solar Design and Installation Awards page on our website.