Matthew Flinders Anglican College

Among the lush forests of the Sunshine Coast, you’ll find Matthew Flinders Anglican College supported by an eco-conscious community.

In early 2017, the college was looking for a way to reduce energy costs, reduce CO2 emissions and provide a more sustainable community for the families, students and staff across the campus. With Planet Ark Power, the college now has the largest sustainable school solar system in Queensland.

Information

Customer name:

Matthew Flinders Anglican College

Location:

Buderim QLD 4556

Completed:

79.38 kW (2017), 292.90 kW (2018) and 99.56 kW (2020)

System size:

471.84 kW

Case Study

In early 2017, Matthew Flinders Anglican College was looking for a way to reduce energy costs, reduce CO2 emissions and provide a more sustainable campus. The college board wanted a large-scale solar system, several challenges needed to be overcome.

Restrictions:

As there are many students onsite, the project had to be completed with several logistics, scheduling and construction restrictions, as well as to WHS guidelines

Timing:

There are only 3 or 4 windows in the year when Planet Ark Power contractors can be there

Climate:

The main window for installation, summer school holidays, is the Sunshine Coast rainy season

Planet Ark Power had faced similar challenges with other school site projects and had the flexibility to complete work around the school’s schedule.

Planet Ark Power provided the design, supply and installation of the largest sustainable school solar system in Queensland. With the operational restrictions in place, Planet Ark Power delivered 175 kW of rooftop solar across the school’s Early Learning Centre, Junior School and Secondary College completing in January 2018.

Planet Ark Power delivered Stage 1 of its solution to specification and on time despite severe weather delays. Stage 2, delivers another 200 kW of solar with construction having begun in May 2018.

The Matthew Flinders Anglican College Solar System got its first report card in May 2018. In its initial months of operation, the system delivered 108% of the modelling. With the system over-performing, there is higher potential for quicker ROI delivering real financial and environmental benefit to the college.

The ability to deliver a large project across a technically challenging, multi-building site for a client whose operations strictly curbed access demonstrated Planet Ark Power is capable to adapt and perform to client specifications.

Read Case Study (PDF, 820KB)

“

We selected Planet Ark Power based upon the quality of knowledge and advice provided by them, past experience, and their unreserved commitment to customer service

Sharon Verrinder, Finance Director, Matthew Flinders Anglican College.