AVLC Solar Upgrade Project

Courtesy of MVCC:

Warm pool, cool savings

Back in May, we started installing a 422 panel solar power system at Ascot Vale Leisure Centre, as part of the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Initiatives included in our 2022/23 Capital Works Program. The panels will have a BIG impact - helping us save on electrcity costs and drive down emissions by using solar power.

Some impressive facts and figures:

• AVLC has an existing 110 panel, 30 kiloWatt(kW) system that was installed in 2016
• 422 additional solar panels were installed in May - June 2023
• Total rated power: 200kW (new system) + 30kW (existing) = 230kW
• Annual average power generation = 300,000kWh (kiloWatt hours), which would power approximately 63 typical melbourne households for a whole year
• The electricity produced will save Council approximately $44,000 annually
• 328 tonnes of greenhouse emissions saved per year by avoiding grid power
• the new system uses 475W panels with 22% efficiency. 20yrs ago, rooftop solar panels were 156W each, 11% efficient and 10 times the price! Basically, in 20yrs these panels have gotten about 20 times better in terms of dollars per watt!

The project was funded with a $325,000 investment from last year's Council budget, and a $100,000 grant through the Victorian Government's New Energy Jobs Fund. Costs associated with this work also included the installation of roof safety access equipment.

Moonee Valley City Council website - https://mvcc.vic.gov.au