Apr 6 2005
Landcom and BP Solar have joined forces on a new project aimed to enhance the use of solar power in residential developments.
Landcom's Director of Sustainability and Policy, Armineh Mardirossian, said Landcom and BP Solar would create a small community of 16 homes at Second Ponds Creek in Blacktown that will have 16kW of solar power generation capacity.
"This is an exciting project which has Landcom and BP Solar combining their expertise to promote wider use of solar energy in residential developments," Ms Mardirossian said. "The $184,000 initiative has the backing of the Australian Greenhouse Office, which has provided a $77,000 grant towards implementing the scheme under the Photovoltaic Rebate Program."
"The energy efficient homes will be developed by Landcom and fitted with solar panels to generate 16kW of solar power, equivalent to almost 40 per cent of their annual electricity requirements. "The BP solar power systems will be installed at different angles and in different locations on each property and then monitored to evaluate the benefit to the local electricity grid during times of peak demand."
Smart meters will also be installed in each home to allow residents to see how much electricity is being used at any given time and what it costs, to encourage energy conservation.
"Research shows that in Sydney's west, peak demand for energy is around 1000MW higher than the normal summer peak of 2500MW. This extra demand is attributed to an increased use of airconditioning. "We are striving to find new ways to manage this peak electricity usage without the cost of a major upgrade of electricity infrastructure."
Regional Director of BP Solar Mark Twidell said the Second Ponds Creek development offered a valuable opportunity to demonstrate the Australian Government's Solar Cities concept on a small scale. It will also assist Landcom and BP Solar to formulate their approach to the Solar Cities program.
"Developing solutions to Sydney's peak electricity demand challenges is critical to the future growth of solar power in NSW," Mr Twidell said. Ms Mardirossian said the Second Ponds Creek project was born out of Landcom and BP Solar's desire to create more sustainable communities through partnerships. "Through our partnership with BP Solar, Landcom expects to enhance its record of creating benchmark energy efficient communities.
"Landcom is also investigating energy efficient climate control technologies and peak demand solutions to ease the pressure of airconditioners on Sydney's energy supply, which are considered the major cause of higher peak demand," she said. Construction is expected to start on the new homes in December 2005 and be completed during 2006.
The solar systems have an expected lifetime in excess of 20 years. BP Solar will manage maintenance services to the home, at no cost to the homeowner for an initial four-year period.