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2017 award winners

Congratulations to the winners in the 2017 Solar Design and Installation Awards, which were presented at All-Energy Australia on Wednesday 11 October. Read on to find out more about the winners and the finalists in the following categories:

  • Under 30 kW grid connect with battery back-up
  • Under 30 kW grid connect
  • 30-240 kW
  • Over 240 kW

Under 30 kW grid connect with battery back-up

Winner - Stuart Bruce and Dean Edmonds

The Stucco Project

Working with Solaray Energy, Stuart and Dean designed and installed a solar and storage retrofit on the heritage-listed Stucco Housing Co-Operative for low-income students in Newtown, Sydney. The system includes a 30 kW solar array and 36 batteries with a capacity of 42.3 kWh to provide renewable electricity to the 40 residents of the co-op. It is expected that more than 1000 low-income students will benefit from the system over its lifetime.

Sdi awards 2017 1

Under 30 kW grid connect

Winner - Jason Hua and John David O'Brien

Booran Road Reserve

Working with Suntrix, Jason and John designed and installed a 15 kW system that powers the amenities at the City of Glen Eira’s Booran Road Reserve, a former water reservoir that has been turned into a public park. The system is mounted on the wall of the original reservoir, making the best use of the available space while preserving the site’s historical legacy.

Sdi awards 2017 2

30-240 kW

Winner - Marcus Lim

The University of Melbourne - Parkville Campus

Working with Lean Energy, Marcus designed and installed a 162 kW rooftop solar system at the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus that will be used to collect data on the best designs for commercial solar systems. Dubbed the Rooftop Solar Lab, the installation will compare the performance of micro inverters and string inverters, monocrystalline panels and polycrystalline panels as well as a number of other design alternatives.

Sdi awards 2017 3

Over 240 kW

Winner - Matthew Linney and Peter Cook

University of Southern Queensland

Working with Autonomous Energy, Matthew and Peter designed and installed a 1.1 MW solar carpark shading system at the University of Southern Queensland. The installation is the largest solar carpark shading system in Australia, significantly reducing the university’s carbon footprint while generating approximately $1 million in annual electricity savings and large-scale generation certificate revenue.

Sdi awards 2017 5

Judges' Honourable Mention

Frank Cernoia, Daniel Bryant and Astrid Herber

The Lincraft Project

Working with Beacon Solar, Frank, Daniel and Astrid's innovative design used solar panels to recreate the Lincraft logo on the company’s building in Derrimut, Melbourne. The 100 kW installation allows Lincraft to reduce its energy consumption while providing it with additional marketing exposure due to its close proximity to the Tullamarine Airport flight path.

Sdi awards 2017 4

2017 finalists

Under 30 kW grid connect with battery

  • Stuart Bruce and Dean Edmonds for an innovative behind-the-meter 30 kW solar array and 42.3 kWh storage solution for the Stucco Low Income Student Housing Co-op in Newtown, Sydney.

Under 30 kW grid connect

  • Jason Hua and John David O'Brien for a 15 kW solar PV system at a public reserve in Glen Huntly, Melbourne.

30-240 kW

  • Frank Cernoia, Daniel Bryant and Astrid Herber for a 100 kW solar rooftop system on Lincraft's factory in Derrimut, Melbourne in the shape of the company's logo.
  • Marcus Lim for a 162 kW solar system on The University of Melbourne's Parkville Campus that used a mix of poly and mono panels to spell the word "Melbourne" on the rooftop.
  • Jamie Thorncraft and Juan Jose Ferrandis Giral for a 100 kW rooftop solar system on the iconic "Toaster Building" at Sydney's Circular Quay.

Over 240 kW

  • Matthew Linney and Peter Cook for a 1.1 MW solar system as shade covering for the main carpark at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba, Queensland.
  • Timothy Shield and Florian Hess for a 1.07 MW solar PV system at Zilzie Winery in Red Cliffs, Victoria using a combination of roof-mounted and ground-mounted panels.
  • Jamie Thorncraft, Juan Jose Ferrandis Giral, Brenton Moratto and Edie Barkla-Mather for a 421 kW ground-mounted solar system at the Australian Vintage winery in Buronga, New South Wales.