Alice Springs Airport (ASP) will add more than 1,000 solar panels to its already substantial PV installation.
To cost $1.9 million, the latest project will boost the airport’s on-site clean power generation capacity by around 40% and make it one of the largest Australian airport solar arrays.
“This latest phase will turn our entire long term car park into a solar energy station, and when it’s complete will offset the equivalent of 430 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year,” said Alice Springs Airport General Manager Dave Batic.
” The combined total of our solar power output, more than 800kw, will offset a massive 1270 tonnes of annual carbon dioxide emissions.”
The new installation is expected to be completed late this year.
Alice Springs Airport already generates 50 per cent of its energy needs from the sun, taking advantage of the 350 cloudless days a year and 10 hours of sunshine most days that Alice Springs experiences.
ASP was the first Australian airport to invest PV power for on-site electricity generation. Last year, ASP added 325kW solar PV capacity to build on its then-existing 235kW of solar capacity; which was installed in 2010.
Alice Springs Airport also utilises solar lighting as a backup system to the standard electricity operated runway lighting. Two x 800 litre hot water systems used to provide hot water to the public areas of the terminal building were also converted from mains power to solar heating.
Last year, ASP was named Major Airport of the Year by the Australian Airports Association (AAA) for its solar power projects. It also won the Safe Climate Award at the Environment Centre NT’s inaugural Ochre Green awards.
Its solar efforts have also seen ASP a winner of a 2011 Brolga Award, the Commercial/Industry category in the 2011 PowerWater Melaleuca Awards, two environmental awards in the Engineers Australia Northern Division 2011 Engineering Excellence Awards and as a category finalist in the United Nation’s 2011 World Environment Day Awards.
“Our solar power projects have been hugely successful for the business,” said Mr. Batic. “We’re committed to further developing our solar energy capabilities, especially when it comes to thinking outside the square to make it happen.”
