Australia funds the world’s first re-deployable rooftop solar panels

Solpod has developed an innovative new way of fixing solar panels to roofing by using a re-deployable racking and mounting system.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced funding for an Australian start-up Solpod Pty Ltd (Solpod) to trial installing re-deployable rooftop solar on commercial and government buildings.

Solpod technology

Solpod has developed an innovative new way of fixing solar panels to roofing by using a re-deployable racking and mounting system, offering the ability to quickly remove the panels to be deployed elsewhere. The project aims to increase the uptake of solar PV in the commercial and industrial sectors by offering commercial tenants a cost-competitive solar system that is able to be redeployed elsewhere.

The AUD$5 million (US$3.6 million) Solpod Solar PV Demonstration project will see the installation of the solar panels at 25 sites across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Each site will install up to 100 kW for a total of 2.43 MW of Solar PV capacity. ARENA has provided AUD$975, 000 (US$700,920) as funding.

In partnership with ERM Power, Solpods will be mounted at sites including 10 owned by commercial property group GPT – among them is Highpoint, Parkmore (Melbourne) and Norton Plaza (Sydney) shopping centres – and on 10 New South Wales government properties managed by Property NSW.

ERM Power sourced and contracted the property owners and is administering the delivery of the demonstration programme for these customers including billing the Solpod power purchase agreements.

Prefabricated, 5 kW Solpods are made of a premium 72-cell solar panel made by Chinese company JA Solar. Framed and raised on legs at an angle that promotes self-cleaning, the panels are installed by crane and affixed to roofs using adhesive in a process that takes as little as 10 minutes per panel.

Typically, 21 Solpod modules – 100 kW of solar generation – can be transported on a truck and installed with minimal disruption to a site, and with no damage to rooftop structures. A commercial-scale installation of Solpods takes days to achieve generation, rather than weeks and is non-invasive as it involves no drilling or clamping.

The inability to relocate traditional solar arrays once they are installed has been a major barrier to solar investment. This has led to resistance of thousands of businesses to invest in solar installations with a lifetime of at least 25 years when their leases may be much shorter or they might have plans for site redevelopment or other legitimate concerns.

Solpod’s innovative way of installing solar panels will pave the way for businesses which were previously locked out of rooftop solar to take up renewable energy solutions and options under shorter-term power purchase agreements. Despite rooftop solar being cheaper and more sustainable than the grid, many businesses have made the rational decision to not adopt solar because of other factors such as length of commitment, disruption on site and damage to buildings.

Solpod is the game-changer that removes these barriers and enables businesses to capture the savings in energy costs. Solpod’s solution can adapt to meet individual business needs; like businesses that rent their premises, Solpod installation can offer short-term contracts to match lease terms. Thus businesses can benefit now from rooftop solar without having to make long-term commitments to the property. For landlords, Solpod allows flexibility for changing site use and will not damage the roof.
Customers can choose to buy a Solpod system outright or choose an energy solution such as a Solpod lease or power-purchase arrangement through energy retailer ERM Power. ERM Power expects 500 kW installations for logistics and industrial sheds to become the most popular commercial set up in the near future.

Solpod’s innovative re-deployable solar system opens up new markets for rooftop solar installation, flexible opportunities and business models that can overcome hurdles to commercial solar uptake. ARENA has recognised the potential for the Solpod to “help accelerate solar PV innovation; providing a cost-competitive alternative to standard methods of fixed mounting”.

MEED
This article is sourced from Renewable Technology sister publication www.meed.com, a leading source of high-value business intelligence and economic analysis about the Middle East and North Africa. To access more MEED content register for the 30-day Free Guest User Programme. https://www.meed.com/registration/

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