Wednesday 21/5/2008 Page: 24
It is the largest commercial solar installation contract in South Australia. BP Solar manufactured and supplied 760 solar panels that have been installed on the middle of the airport's Terminal 1 roof by contractor Solaris Technology. All solar modules and power equipment are in place, leaving only the final wiring and commissioning, Solaris managing director Sandy Pulsford said yesterday."This is a landmark project. As the second largest photovoltaic system in Australia, this project puts Adelaide on the solar map," he said. The panels will be visible from the air but will not be seen from the ground. The start of the project was reported by The Advertiser in March, after delays dogging the plan had been highlighted for months. The beginning of work ended months of secrecy about the project, which was funded with $1 million of taxpayers' money.
The project was announced on October 9, 2005, by Premier Mike Rann. Last November, The Advertiser reported a dispute between Mr Rann and Adelaide Airport Limited about the project's direction, after revealing in September axing of the original concept. Infrastructure Department deputy chief executive Rod Hook yesterday said the Government was pleased with the project's progress. "We now expect the panels will be connected and operating by the middle of the year, delivering a maximum system rating of 114kW," he said.
Mr Pulsford said one of the main challenges facing workers was getting all solar modules and steelwork on to the airport's roof. This involved a B-double semi-trailer and a 60-tonne crane with a boom long enough to reach the airport terminal roof from the car park, and lifting 14 tonnes of solar modules and frames in one day. Weight restrictions on the roof meant all equipment had to be carried to its final locations and secured against the wind by the end of the day. The array was 140m long and 8m wide, he said.
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