NBN Co completes installation of solar PV across network

Australia’s National Broadband Network may not have delivered the world’s fastest internet speeds, but it is a little greener this week, after the installation of 1.75MW of solar capacity across the NBN was completed.

The various solar PV arrays, designed and installed by Queensland-based company Solgen Energy, include ground mounted systems at the NBN’s remote-based Satellite Earth Stations (SES) and rooftop systems on the metropolitan Technical Aggregation Node and Development (TAND) facilities.

They were commissioned by the government-owned NBN Co, to reduce the environmental impact of the upgrade of Australia’s communication infrastructure and help ensure future access to high speed broadband.

In the case of the 10 satellite ground stations NBN Co has built around Australia – aimed at providing residents in remote and regional areas with high speed broadband services – the on-ground solar farms are designed to offset the power consumption of the facilities.

SES ground stations have been built in Bourke, Broken Hill, and Wolumla in New South Wales; Carnarvon, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, and Waroona in Western Australia; Roma in Queensland; Geeveston in Tasmania; and Ceduna in South Australia.

Solgen CEO David Naismith said the NBN Co’s prioritisation of clean energy solutions for the network set an important example for other major corporations.

“To ensure this government initiative will provide future generations with many years of high speed broadband access, a combined 1.75MW solar power capacity was installed across the majority of NBN’s sites. A big achievement for all involved.

“Solgen’s overall approach to the design of each solar array was aimed around efficiency with respect to the proposed infrastructure and the existing topography of each site.