WA residential complex installs 2kW of solar for each apartment

Western Australia continues to lead in the development of new residential buildings and estates with built-in renewable energy supplies, with the installation of a 180kW solar system on the roof of a soon to be completed apartment complex in Perth.

The developers of the Rivervale “Flo” project, local property group Psaros, say the rooftop PV array – billed as the largest of its kind in the state – will effectively provide 2kW of solar PV capacity to each of the complex’s 86 apartments, and cut the average energy consumption of a single-bedroom unit in half, in combination with other efficiency measures.

The five-level, “boutique” development will also feature an outdoor solar-heated swimming pool, and smart technology that allows the apartment’s lighting, heating/cooling and entertainment systems to be controlled through the owner’s personal electronic device, such as an iPad.

Flo front exterior with pool

“Flo is really representative of the future direction of residential developments in Perth,” said Chiara Pacifici, the head of sustainability at Psaros.

“When you consider that more than two million Australian households are already fitted with solar panels, it won’t be long before the installation of renewable energy technology is standard across all new residential developments in WA,” she said.

Indeed, RenewEconomy has recently reported on two such developments in the state: the Alkimos Beach project, that is trialling rooftop solar plus storage (a centralised 1.1MHh battery system) at a 100-residence estate in the northern suburbs of Perth; and Landcorp’s White Gum Valley estate, which will include solar PV on all of its mostly north-facing homes, coupled with domestic battery storage technology and embedded efficiency measures.

There is no mention of battery storage for the Flo project, but in addition to the 640-panel PV array, residents will be able to monitor their real-time energy use, and take advantage of solar passive design for optimal thermal comfort.

“There’s overwhelming buyer support for projects incorporating renewable energy technologies, not only because of the cost-saving benefits, but also because people recognise this is the way of the future,” Pacifici said.

For Psaros CEO, Danny Psaros, ensuring each apartment is “future-proofed” is of key importance to developers.

“By emphasising ecologically sustainable design, we’re reducing the carbon footprint of each Psaros development while simultaneously ensuring that our apartments are technologically superior now and into the future.

“The end result for the resident is a quality apartment which benefits them both in the short-term and in the long-term by enhancing the resale value.”

Comments

4 responses to “WA residential complex installs 2kW of solar for each apartment”

  1. Peter Campbell Avatar
    Peter Campbell

    About time. Much easier to install by the developer at the start. Strata properties often have large areas of unencumbered roof space but difficult to use for various reasons.
    For retrofitting in existing strata properties it can be hard. It is now easier in the ACT than in many states, see s.23 of the ACT’s Unit Titles (Management) Act 2011. A single ordinary resolution can resolve to use the common property to install sustainability infrastructure where there previously could have been multiple resolutions of different types required to fund, to grant easements, to amend a management plan and so on.
    This could be PV to run all the public lighting of corridors and parking areas, lifts and so on. It could also be a community veggie garden.

  2. john Avatar
    john

    This company will have trouble trying to satisfy the demand for these units because of the good value to the owners of each who will have valuable property.
    I expect their next project will incorporate storage to further shave the energy costs to unit owners with out a doubt this company is forward looking and has to be congratulated.

  3. Humanitarian Solar Avatar
    Humanitarian Solar

    Wondrous beginning. As more developers focus on selling integrated green technologies, these will improve and trickle down to be a new household standard for energy and water independence and human waste recycling back to the earth where its needed.

  4. derekbolton Avatar
    derekbolton

    Any chance of getting details on the metering? Does each apartment get 2kW, use it or lose it, no sharing? Or can everyone share the whole resource by some scheme?

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