Next week, around 6,000 new solar panels will be installed at Tonsley Innovation District, increasing the site’s green energy output.
In May, 64,000 kg of solar panels were helicoptered onto the rooflines of Renewal SA’s Line Zero building and TAFA SA’s campus as part of an expansion of the Tonsley District Energy Scheme.
CleanPeak Energy, a specialist in renewable energy, owns and operates the scheme.
CleanPeak Energy is a company dedicated to supporting responsible organisations in deploying renewable energy to improve their site, save money on power, lower their carbon footprint, and lead the way in adopting technology for a sustainable future.
Minister Nick Champion applaud CleanPeak on the installation’s success – a difficult process involving dozens of local tradespeople.
“The switching on of the panels was another quality example of Tonsley’s undisputable commitment to sustainability. Renewables are the future, and it’s great to see Tonsley Innovation District and CleanPeak Energy pushing to not only create cleaner sources of energy but also providing storage capabilities for the future,” Minister Champion said.
The Minister added that South Australia is making strong progress towards its greenhouse gas emission reduction goals of reducing emissions by more than 50 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
The Stage 2 installation, which adds significantly to the capacity of the current solar asset installed on top of Tonsley’s Main Assembly Building (MAB) in 2020, one of Australia’s largest rooftop-mounted solar arrays, covers an area around the size of one and a half football fields.
When combined, the two sets of panels will provide up to 80 per cent of the district’s energy needs, raising Tonsley’s solar capacity to 5 Megawatts – the equivalent of powering approximately 300 households per year.
As part of the District Energy Scheme, 13,000 panels will be placed, secured by 10,000 fasteners, 34 inverters, and over 15,000 metres of electrical wire.
CleanPeak will have invested more than $20 million in Tonsley after the solar system and a planned battery project is completed.
CleanPeak Energy Philip Graham said the 5 MW solar plant on the MAB rooftop is one of the country’s largest systems. Graham stated the project’s second stage took nine months to complete and included the system’s design, construction, and delivery.
“Now that it is operational, it will provide around 80 per cent of the precinct’s overall energy needs annually. The Tonsley project underpins CleanPeak’s growing investment in South Australia, which includes an upcoming battery fleet servicing multiple commercial sites across the state,” Graham added.
According to Graham, CleanPeak Energy plans to pair the Tonsley system with a 3.3-Megawatt battery, which is now being designed for the site and will allow for the storage of excess energy produced. Graham stated this keeps the facility on pace to lower its carbon impact and brings CleanPeak Energy closer to realising our goal of using 100 per cent renewable energy.
“It’s terrific to partner with Renewal SA to deliver the 5-Megawatt solar system as well as an innovative behind-the-meter battery that will ensure the world-class Tonsley Innovation District is powered by clean energy,” Graham said.
Over the past ten years, over 140 enterprises have converged in the Tonsley Innovation District.
Nearly two times as many employees now work on-site as there were at Tonsley when Mitsubishi announced its closure.
Over 1061 trees and 42,513 plants and shrubs are currently growing across the Tonsley Innovation District, including within the MAB woods, along streets, greenways, and wetlands.
Tonsley is currently home to 500 South Australians, and Tonsley Village is planned to house more than 1,800 persons once completed.
Karen Roberts, Head of Global Customer Enablement ZEISS, said as a foundation-owned company, ZEISS takes responsibility seriously, and sustainability is central to our operations.
Roberts stated that ZEISS sites worldwide are now almost entirely powered by renewable energy to support the company’s aims.
“The supply of reliable, renewable energy from CleanPeak Energy for our Tonsley operation is therefore an important part of further advancing our sustainability goals,” Roberts added.
