Dunblane – 11 MW DC-Commercial

Completed: 2018

Purpose: Generator

Structure: Jurchen Technology

Location: Barcaldine, QLD

CO2 Offset: Annual CO2 offset 14,614 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e)*

Generation Capacity: Capable of powering 3,533 homes on average**

 

The 11MW Dunblane project in Barcaldine, Queensland is the largest, privately funded, unsubsidised solar farm of its type currently in the world and was built in just 10 weeks and 4 days; achieved without any tax payer subsidies and using an Australian workforce.

The Belectric PEG system allows for a fast, high-quality build in a fraction of the time compared to other methods. Further, this system presents a low workplace health and safety risk, with minimal heavy equipment onsite, no install operations above shoulder height, and no 240-electrical equipment used. Component parts such as pegs and plates are light and manageable, and the modules are comfortably handled by two people. The main workplace health and safety risk with this system are blisters, sunburn and dehydration.

Pegging trailers installed a minimum 480 pegs per day; solar panels moduling rates as high as 1700 per day. The PEG frame system installation costs achieved were approximately 13 cents a watt, excluding electrical work connection costs and frame and moduling costs.

*Homes powered is based on an average Sydney household with 2.4 people who use 5,237 kWH per year)

**tCO2e is ‘tonnes of CO2 equivalent’ to the production of the same amount of energy via coal

The system doesn’t require a large or specialised workforce. Initially a team of nine was required for the marking and pegging phase. increasing to 21 for the moduling phase. Casual team members were hired predominantly from the local community and Meralli also provided work opportunities for young, disadvantaged people on this project.

Meralli ensured that Barcaldine businesses benefited with all possible consumables purchased locally.