ATP reduces its carbon ‘thumbprint’
The installation of a new solar power system on the roof of the NICTA Building at Australian Technology Park (ATP) is driving renewable energy as part of the Park’s overall sustainability strategy.
Operational on 18 October 2011, the 61kW solar panel system is generating approximately 93,000 kWh per year (equivalent to the energy use of 12 average households) from the sun’s radiated energy and will provide around 13 per cent of the NICTA Building’s base building electricity requirements. This includes air conditioning for tenants during business hours as well as power to foyers, lifts and common areas.
Australian Technology Park is committed to driving greener ways for the Park to operate which includes a major focus on reducing its energy, waste and water usage.
Roy Wakelin-King, Managing Director of ATP, says, “The new solar panel system deploys high efficiency technology and is an important part of ATPSL’s Sustainability Strategy to reduce our reliance on non-renewable energy resources.
“The installation involved 325 solar panels set up on to the NICTA rooftop. The solar panels will not only generate electricity, but will also provide shading to a significant proportion of the NICTA Building roof area to deliver the added benefit of lessening demand for air conditioning and electricity consumption.”
On weekends and public holidays, when building energy demand is low, surplus electricity from the solar power system will be fed into the public grid.
The system will produce free and clean electricity for a lifetime of 30 years or more.
Mr Wakelin-King says ATP is looking to take a leading role in sustainability as part of its technology, innovation and sustainability strategy. Other recent initiatives at ATP include reducing the Park’s waste by 25 per cent through waste management initiatives and efficient lighting replacing conventional lights in certain areas such as the Locomotive Workshops and Innovation Plaza which consume 60 per cent less electricity. Mr Wakelin-King also said these measures have led to improvements in costs savings for ATP.
