Nov 30 2010
The Wharf, abode of the Sydney Theatre Company (STC), currently sports a rooftop solar array, decorated by Suntech solar panels. The solar project received around $2 million as donation from a charity initiated by Dr. Zhengrong Shi, CEO of Suntech.
The 384 kW solar installation incorporates 1,906 Pluto solar panels manufactured by Suntech and is considered to be one of the top power producing rooftop solar installations in Australia. The monocrystalline types of solar panels installed over the roof are designed to achieve a maximum solar power conversion efficiency of 19% and to meet around 70% power supply requirement of STC. The Wharf, in addition to sporting a solar system, also has a sleek waste recycling system and a rainwater reaping system to meet the non-potable water requirements of the newly installed solar facility. Currently, a number of Australian companies are installing rooftop solar installations to save power and Johnson & Johnson Medical, is one such company that installed a 200 kW solar power utilizing the services of Energy Matters, a solar solution providing company.
Suntech is involved in a number of solar researches with leading Australian educational instutitions, such as Swinburne University of Technology and UNSW and investing millions of dollars every year in such research.