Stockland installs rooftop solar at Birtinya shopping centre
Stockland Birtinya has commenced installation of a $832,800 rooftop solar project to provide clean, green, renewable energy to the shopping centre and its retailers.
The highly anticipated project will see Stockland work with Solgen Energy to install a 550 KW system comprised of 1,896 solar panels that will cover a roof area of approximately 3,700 square metres.
The system is expected to generate approximately 882,000 kWh of renewable energy per year, enough to power over 160 homes1 and is expected to be switched on ahead of the shopping centres official opening in December.
Shane Monro, Centre Manager at Stockland Birtinya, said: “We’re extremely proud to be installing this solar project at Stockland Birtinya and look forward to creating clean, green energy for our retailers, our customers and the community.
“We are committed to offering customers a more sustainable shopping experience and the solar project at Stockland Birtinya is an important step towards a more sustainable future.”
The Birtinya installation forms part of Stockland’s national investment in solar power generation across its commercial property portfolio, setting a new standard for the industry. Stockland has invested over $32 million in existing and planned solar power generation across 20 retail town centres or logistics centres around the country. This investment in solar is expected to produce 24.9 GWh of energy every year, the equivalent to driving an electric car around the world 3,458 times. Stockland’s solar capacity is expected to exceed 17.9MW by 2020, totalling over 48,000 solar panels that would cover over 14 rugby fields.
Davina Rooney, General Manager, Sustainability at Stockland, said: “Solar is an important step for renewable energy in Australia, playing a vital role in the transition to a lower carbon energy future. Stockland is committed to investing in sustainable energy and is working towards setting a new standard in solar for the Australian property industry.
“We’ve already invested more than $4.5 million in successful solar projects at four of our shopping centres in Queensland and look forward to extending this across another 10 centres including Stockland Birtinya.”
Stockland owns and manages the most Green Star rated retail town centres in Australia (Design & As Built) and has Australia’s first retail portfolio with a Green Star Performance rating.
[1] Based on 3 occupants per household in postcode 4575, www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/benchmark
