Australia’s biggest brewing company CUB, the owners of Foster’s, Victoria Bitter and the Yak Ales to name a few, intends to source 100% of its energy needs from solar by the end of the year with a new 112MW solar farm. Telstra has also signed two major contracts for wind and solar, and is also looking to storage solutions for their power needs.

Over the last few months, Total has moved into large-scale renewables investment via its subsidiary Total Eren, signing a landmark power purchase agreement for their 200MW Kiamal solar project, which now stands as one of the biggest renewable energy development portfolios in the country.

BP is also back in the Australian solar market, having left the solar market a few years back to finally make the re-emergence in the Australian market.

Along with private companies making the switch to solar, with various shopping centres across WA looking to renewables for a sustainable future.

The Currambine Central shopping centre in Perth’s north has invested in 100kW of solar, while the Ellenbrook Central shopping centre has a huge 2.9MW of solar to be installed.

The most notable development is at the Northam Boulevard Shopping Centre. Completed in May last year, 665 kW of of solar has been networked on the centre in a major energy overhaul. With the vision of a sustainable future, several hundred solar PV panels have been installed in the carpark of the centre to both generate energy and act as roofing and shade to the parked cars of shoppers.

The ‘solar carpark’ located 100km north of Perth in the wheatbelt town of Northam is the first of its kind and the biggest commercial solar project in WA. Source: onestepoffthegrid.com.au. 

Supplying around 40% of the centre’s energy needs, this is a major step forward for commercially installed solar.

So what is it that’s influencing this huge influx in business looking to invest in renewable energy?

Australia has moved away from an exceedingly centralised energy control, with just a handful of suppliers dominating the market. What we are seeing now is a highly decentralised market looking to compete with the previously energy-governing bodies.  

Despite the ideals of many in the conservative government, Australia’s extraordinary wind and solar resources, ideal climate for renewable energy and the absurdly high price of grid power, more businesses are looking to make the change to solar energy.Realising this, a recent survey detailed in the article, ‘new poll on energy shows Australians want energy efficiency and lower bills’ perfectly details the thoughts of the Australian public, and how going solar is at the top of everyone’s to-do list.

What is capturing much of the investors interest is the growing role of the consumer. Australia’s energy market institutions have discovered that up to half of all energy demand can be served by distributed energy, with much of it generated on private rooftop solar energy systems and stored locally.

How can we help you?

The Energy division at AICA are here to provide the tools and the services to help growing businesses decentralise your energy as well, with a system perfectly tailored to your energy needs.

By not having to waste expenditure on income bills, solar is putting money directly back into your pocket, as it is a source of energy that you now own.

Taking the opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and embrace renewable energy technology while demand remains high and prices are at an all-time low, your business will now be able to spend that extra cash saved on investments to further expand your company.

If you are interested to see what we can do for your business, call our friendly team on 1800 242 228.