A new project from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is demonstrating the value of urban and industrial rooftop space for use as sprawling solar farms for benefits beyond powering a host building’s energy needs.
UTS has a 23-year rooftop licence with business park manager Dexus at its Tech Lab facility in the Sydney suburb of Botany, and it is installing – and will own – a 1000kW solar system on the site’s roof.
The project features 2500 solar panels and will produce around 1400MWh a year, enough to power the equivalent of 255 homes.
The solar farm will deliver electricity to the UTS Tech Lab and export excess energy to the grid to meet local demand.
“All those times you’ve flown in or out of Sydney Airport, over the top of all those sprawling warehouse roofs, they are solar farms just waiting to happen,” says Jonathan Prendergast, green infrastructure project manager at UTS.
“Solar is now cost effective enough that it can be installed on Sydney rooftops as power stations, not just for reducing demand of the host.”
He says the project is born out of the need for greater generation of power in NSW and an innovative approach to maximising the potential of urban and industrial space.
“Our CBDs, for example, are full of high-rise buildings and limited roof space with high energy demand,” says Prendergast.
“Often tenants find getting solar on their rooftops limited due to complex negotiations with landlords or short-term leasing so we have had to innovate to find solutions to go solar.
“Although UTS is a tenant in Botany, we’ve reached a long-term agreement with Dexus to cover all available roof space.”
As site manager, Dexus is enthusiastic about the rooftop solar farm project.
“Dexus is excited to support UTS on its decarbonisation journey, transforming our Lord Street roof space into an urban power station,” says Rob Sims, Dexus general manager, group sustainability.
“Partnering with our customers on renewable energy is one of the ways we are progressing our science-based target, where collaboration is the key to achieving value-chain decarbonisation and better environmental and social outcomes.”
UTS has been developing rooftop and offsite solar systems for nearly 10 years to help meet its goals of being a renewable-powered university.
Its main campus in Ultimo features rooftop solar, as does Haberfield Rowers, home to UTS Rowing Club.