Located in Peak Hill, New South Wales, the Central West Agricentre solar installation demonstrated how regional agribusinesses could embrace renewable energy to cut costs and support sustainability. Installed in 2013 by Energy Matters, this 10kW commercial solar system showcased the effectiveness of solar power for agricultural operations.
“… expected to pay for itself within 4 years”
Central West Agricentre supports farming communities in the Peak Hills region of New South Wales. The Agriwest branch is part of the Ruralco network, which also includes CRT and many other well-known Australian agricultural brands.
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Project overview
Location
Peak Hill, NSW
System Size
10kW
Estimated Annual Production
14.6 MWh
CO2 Avoided Annually
22 tonnes
Solar Panels
40 x REC 250W
Solar Inverter
Power-One Aurora 10KW
Mounting System
SunLock
Installed
2013
In addition to the REC solar panels, Power-One Aurora inverter and SunLock mounting system, this array also included Energy Matters’ Power Maximiser.
The Power Maximiser is a compact device installed in or near the switchboard. It monitors electricity production and consumption, securely transmitting the data to a central server. The data is then analysed by software that displays results and charts via a secure portal.
Analysing system performance against expected output and logging inverter data in real time enables the operator to identify and troubleshoot performance issues remotely before they occur, helping to ensure ongoing maximum system performance.
REC panels were selected for the Central West Agricentre installation due to their outstanding performance and durability. REC Peak Energy modules underwent damaging potential-induced degradation (PID) resistance testing by the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS), with excellent results.
Power-One is the world’s second-largest manufacturer of inverters and is a common sight on residential and commercial installations across the country. The Aurora product line offers “early to wake and late to sleep” features, which help to maximise the amount of energy harnessed from available sunlight each day.
SunLock mounting systems were developed by Energy Matters’ sister company, Apollo Energy, and manufactured in Australia. SunLock mounting solutions were developed by installation professionals for installation professionals and feature in thousands of arrays across the nation.
The Central West Agricentre solar installation proved that solar energy can deliver measurable financial and environmental benefits for regional businesses. With reliable components, smart monitoring, and expert installation by Energy Matters, the project set a benchmark for commercial solar success in rural Australia.
Considering a commercial–scale solar project? Contact us today, and we can begin to build your system together.
