Case Studies | Solar at Claremont College
Thursday, 02 June 2011 11:58

Solar at Claremont College

Solar at Claremont College

“Autonomous Energy has taken a holistic approach to revolutionising the way we use energy at Claremont College and to improving sustainability at our school. We have engaged Autonomous Energy on a number of sustainability projects which have resulted in Claremont College completing the first comprehensive sustainable energy upgrade of a school in Australia. They provided consistently excellent service throughout this process, including the initial energy and carbon audits, designing and installing a 10kW Solar PV system with their in house solar engineers on the steepest roof in the school, and implementing energy efficiency upgrades throughout the school. They communicated with the students, staff and the school community, presenting at a number of school events and meetings. Autonomous Energy share the same long term values of sustainability as we do at Claremont and have also demonstrated their commitment to environmental education. I have no hesitation in recommending Autonomous Energy as a company that is truly independent, competent, creative, problem solving focused and committed to customer service and to working closely with its clients to make the world a better place”.

Doug Thomas
Principal, Claremont College


Project Description

In January 2010 Autonomous Energy installed a 10kW solar power system at Claremont College, one of Sydney’s leading independent co-educational primary schools. This system is one of the first solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Sydney installed under the Commonwealth Government’s National Solar Schools Program. The system comprises 74 world record efficiency 135W multi-crystalline PV solar modules manufactured by Kyocera.

The array is mounted on engineered, solarspecific mounting equipment and is connected to two SMA inverters via premium quality (USE2 rated) DC solar cabling. The inverter connects to the electricity network via a digital gross production meter which enables Claremont College to access the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme, which provides ongoing income from the export and sale of solar electricity to the electricity network. Autonomous Energy also installed an integrated Data Capture, Storage and Visualisation System (DCSVS) which monitors and displays in real time on a dedicated website a range of information, including solar electricity production, the school's total electricity consumption, ambient temperature, sunlight levels, module temperature and so on, where it can be accessed by students and the school community.

Click here to view the Claremont College live data monitoring portal

  • System Size: 10 kW
  • Daily Energy Production: 43.68 kWh
  • Roof Space: 71.2 m2
  • Annual Energy Production: 15,921 kWh
  • Annual Emissions Reduction: 16.92t CO2-e
Last modified on Sunday, 12 February 2012 18:05
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