Energise Gippsland – Using Virtual Models to Design Solar Panels For New Buildings
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Designing solar for new buildings can be challenging, particularly when the building hasn’t been completed yet, says Chris McCarthy, director of Gippsland Solar, a Victoria-based PV company that provides turnkey solar projects to clients. That’s why it’s important to create virtual models, he says. That can include modeling how trees will shade a roof, and how the shading from nearby buildings will affect the production of solar energy.
In the case of the Penguin Parade Visitors Centre in Australia, which was nearing completion when Gippsland Solar was hired to install the solar panels, the company used Aurora software to create a model for the new building’s roof. That way, it could see how many panels would be required and where they should be placed, he says.
Another example of a solar-powered building is the Gippsland Water Factory in Maryvale, which treats wastewater from nine towns and major industries. It’s the seventh Gippsland Water facility to be powered by solar and is reducing electricity costs for the public utility while helping to keep its customer bills down.
The Energise Gippsland program aims to transition the region to 100 per cent renewable energy by offering solar panel systems, battery storage and smart inverters at bulk-buy prices. It will also offer a range of support to those looking to switch to solar.