Australian solar module manufacturer Tindo Solar has won a contract to deliver modules for a pilot solar project for not-for-project housing in South Australia.
Tindo won a tender for the contract to deliver 100 rooftop solar systems (each 1.5kW) on 100 rental accommodation homes to be built in regional areas by Unity Housing Company, as part of its northern regional housing initiative.
Tindo operates the Australian owned and managed solar module manufacturing business at Mawson Lakes in South Australia – the only one of its kind in Australia.
The project includes a new commercial model for financing that makes solar energy available to low income people in rental situations, who have traditionally been excluded from the benefits of solar. Unity Housing is looking to extend the roll-out if the pilot is successful.
Unity Housing chairman Frank O’Neill said the company had been exploring a number of ways to reduce electricity costs to its tenants and chose Tindo because they were locally produced, high quality and provided good value for money.
“Being environmentally responsible, saving on electricity bills while leaving home occupier with lower electricity bills was a win-win for all concerned and just makes good business sense,” he said in the statement.
The project will use Tindo Solar’s Karra 250 AC solar panel with an in-built micro inverter. The combined installation will represent the largest purchase by a not-for-profit housing company of a locally manufactured solar panels.
Tindo began manufacturing at its high-tech and automated plant two years ago and said the contract, and a recent tender win to provide solar systems for Salisbury Council, would enable it to increase production, extend shifts during the week and add a Saturday shift.
Tindo says the AC module with micro-inverters included a 25-year guarantee.
“This is a genuine long-lived product with no “corners” cut in the materials used. Many panels currently for sale in Australia use suspect materials to achieve and artificially low price resulting in questionable energy output and life expectancy of the panel,” it said in a statement.
The housing program is supported by $5 million from the Federal Government’s Regional Development Australia Fund and will be focused on at least nine regional towns such as Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Whyalla, Laura, Saddleworth and Burra.
Ecoplus Energy is the project developer.
