Department of Housing

The WA Department of Housing have approximately 40,000 homes under management. The Department went to tender for the deployment of a solar PV trial of 1% of their homes - approximately 400 homes.  Solargain were chosen as the provider after several months of due diligence was carried out on all the tender submissions.

Case study - Department of Housing
Project Overview
Location: 
Perth, WA
Completed: 
July 2013
System Size: 
413kW (413 x 1kW systems)
Roof Fixing Method: 
Flush mounted to the pitched tile roofs
Products: 
- 1652 x 250W Renesola panels
(i.e. 413 houses x 4 x 250W panels)
- 413 x 1.6kW Sharp inverters
Annual Energy Production: 
1.6MWh approximately per house
Annual Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction: 
1.48 tonnes CO2e (CO2 equivalent) per house

The basis of the trial was to identify the impact solar PV would have on the households through the installation of a 1kW system. Analysis of the impact from the solar PV systems is being undertaken by the Public Utilities Office.

The key considerations included the cost effectiveness, management of the process from initial design right through to commissioning and after-sales support, and positive outcomes for both the Department and the tenants.

It is also noted that this contract is the only one of its kind that the Department has outside of its head building and maintenance contract with Transfield services. Solargain were chosen as the provider after several months of due diligence was carried out on all the tender submissions.

Aside from system yields and other technical considerations one of the most important aspects of the project was that the highest levels of adherence to OH&S standards was in effect.