Bundaberg’s Friendly Society Private Hospital plans to install the largest hospital solar array in Australia.
The hospital will install 1,253 individual panels over the next three months at a cost of more than $1 million. The array will be funded privately, with no federal or state government assistance.
The hospital issued a statement this week, citing the increasing cost of electricity as the driver behind the installation.
Business development manager Stuart Bonnett said the hospital’s monthly power bill is usually between $75,000 and $80,000.
“But with the increase in January, it made it imperative that we do something to reduce our energy costs sooner rather than later,” he said.
Solar array to pay for itself in four years
The project, headed by GEM Energy, will generate 545 kW of electricity, slightly more than the 503 kW rooftop array belonging to Canberra Hospital.
Mr Bonnett said the solar array will pay for itself in four years. “It’s a non-export system and nothing goes back to the grid or to batteries. It goes straight back through the daily usage requirements.
“As a not-for-profit hospital, that is millions of dollars that go back into services for our patients and this community. We will be able to reduce our impact on the environment at the same time.”
Savings of $3.1 million over 10 years
While the system is believed to be the largest ever put on a hospital in Australia, it will still only be enough to power about 25.6% of the hospital’s electricity needs.
“While 25 per cent doesn’t sound significant, it will save the hospital $3.1 million in the first 10 years and $6.9 million in 20 years,” Mr Bonnett said.
He said that as the Bundaberg hospital grew, all future developments would be designed to incorporate more solar panels.
The solar panels will cover about 75 per cent of the hospital’s footprint, utilising all suitable roof space.
The hospital plans to further improve its efficiency by installing low-energy lighting and converting its hot water systems to solar hot water.
In just over three years, its gas hot water bill will be zero – a saving of $84,000 annually.
