Casuarina Square, the largest shopping centre in Australia’s Northern Territory, is located in Darwin’s northern suburbs.
The centre has been servicing the local community since 1973 and features more than 190 stores and retailers, an eatery and cinema facilities.
The $4.5 million Casuarina Square solar project is the largest rooftop solar power system installed in the cyclone-prone region and also the biggest commercial system of its type in Australia.
Energy Matters’ parent company was awarded the project by Australia’s leading retail asset owner, the GPT Group, after a highly competitive tender process.
Successfully executed in conjunction with Country Solar NT; the project was constructed without causing disruption to the normal functioning of the shopping centre. Construction commenced in September 2015 and the array was fully operational by late November.
The 1.25 MW rooftop solar power station will generate in the region of 2,030 megawatt-hours of clean, cheap electricity per year – equivalent to the power needs of 310 households. This system should supply approximately 20% of Casuarina Square’s base building or ‘common area’ electricity demand.
In addition to the 4,190 solar panels and 11 inverters used for the project, the system features more than 10 kilometres of module mounting rails, 10,430 panel clamps, 46,100 roof fixings, and nearly 31 kilometres of DC cabling.
“Casuarina Square is very proud to have Australia’s largest rooftop solar system right here in Darwin,” said Casuarina Square centre manager Dean Young.
“It’s great that we’re part of a company that takes sustainability to the next level.”
The system will avoid around 1,380 tonnes of carbon emissions a year; which is equivalent to taking 300 cars off the road.
The GPT Group’s commitment to sustainability is admirable. The company was recognised for its leadership in environmental sustainability in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for 2015/16; achieving the highest score among the world’s property companies in the ‘environmental dimension’ of the Index.
Considering a commercial scale solar project? Contact us today and we can begin to build your system together.
