The 2018 Solar Design and Installation award winners have been announced by the Clean Energy Council at the All-Energy Australia Exhibition and Conference in Melbourne.
Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thornton, said the 2018 winners have continued to raise the bar, highlighting the growth and innovation that the Australian solar industry embodies and expects.
“The winning projects reflect an incredible growth period in the solar industry and are highly innovative solutions to unique challenges that push the boundaries of what is technically possible,” Mr Thornton said.
“The winners on show range from Australia’s first modular and scalable floating solar PV system, to the largest privately-owned rooftop solar installation in the Southern Hemisphere, and a steampunk-inspired solar system that allows an office to run completely off the grid for two days.
“Selecting the winners has been particularly tough for the judging panel of independent solar industry experts this year. I thank all who took the time to submit an entry to the 2018 Solar Design and Installation Awards,” Mr Thornton said.
Winners were announced across the following categories:
- Under 30kW stand-alone PV power system
- Under 30kW grid connect PV power system
- Under 30kW grid connect PV power system with battery back-up
- 30-240kW – any system eligible
- Over 240kW – any system eligible
- Judges’ Honourable Mention
The full list of winners in the 2018 Solar Design and Installation Awards is as follows:
Under 30kW stand-alone PV power system
Michael Reiken from Excel Power for a steampunk-inspired solar PV system to allow a workshop and office to run completely off-grid with two days of autonomy.
Under 30kW grid connect PV power system
Matthew Leeson, from Leeson Solar, for a 6.75kW building-integrated PV solar tile system on the Austral Bricks display centre in Rochedale Queensland.
Under 30kW grid connect PV power system with battery back-up
Luke Fraser, from Solar Integrity, for a combined solar PV and battery system that demonstrates how residences connected to single wire earth return lines can install larger solar systems.
30-240kW – any system eligible
Geoff Fussell and Guy Cameron from Suntrix, for designing and installing Australia’s first modular scalable floating solar PV system in Lismore, NSW.
Over 240kW – any system eligible
Jarrod Shepherd and Matthew Linney from Autonomous Energy, for a 2.2MW rooftop solar system on the Sydney Markets, the largest privately-owned rooftop solar system in the Southern Hemisphere.
Judges’ Honourable Mention
Nicholas Lake, Gregory Wilson and Simon Gibbs from Nickel Energy for converting a 68-year-old diesel train to become the world’s first solar-powered train in Byron Bay, NSW.
