Ecosave helps Council create renewable energy flagship for local residents and businesses

In early 2019, a representative from the City of Monash approached Ecosave to enquire about the possibility of installing a solar + battery system in one of their community centres. The Council were looking to establish a demonstration site within a community Hub where residents and businesses can visit and learn about the environmental and financial benefits that solar provides.

For the purpose of this system, the savings from the project was not the client’s main objective. Being a Community Hub and having a roofline that is clearly visible from the street meant that the aesthetics of the installation was very important to Monash City Council.

THE SOLUTIONS THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED BY ECOSAVE

+ Ecosave designed a solution that would be the most cost-effective for the client’s needs.
+ Ecosave implemented a 10kW Solar system with 1.2kWh battery storage at Wellington Reserve Community Centre in Mulgrave.
+ Ecosave undertook considerable consultation with various stakeholders during the design phase to ensure the outcome was both functional, symmetrical and retained the use of anchor points on the roof.
+ As the inverter and battery unit was in a public space, it, therefore, needed to be suitably protected. A custom-built powder-coated inverter cage was fabricated locally and now serves to prevent unauthorised access whilst ensuring adequate airflow.
+ Combining the market-leading Fronius 10kW Symo inverter with the Enphase Envoy and battery provided the cost efficiency of a string system with the user-friendly graphic-rich battery portal by Enphase.

Monash City Council achieved their goal of creating a flagship example of what is possible for residents and businesses in terms of renewable energy. This unique
the solution clearly shows the renewable energy being utilised by the site as well as the grid draw and state of charge of the battery.