Adelaide Showground Solar Project

Location:

Wayville, South Australia

Contract:

Design and Construct

Customer:

Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society

Duration:

4 months

Roof-top solar panel system lights up Adelaide Showground

Built Environs partnered with Solar Shop Australia to deliver the then-largest roof top solar panel system in Australia.

The installation of the 1 MW system, which is projected to provide 40% of the Showground's power needs, was completed over six buildings and included structural upgrades.

To expedite the process, Built Environs reviewed the loading capacity of the roofs, allowing the panels to be crane-loaded onto pallets and distributed via trolleys and framing rails. This not only improved the safety of the working environment but also saved months of installation time.

The Adelaide Showground Solar project was delivered two and a half months ahead of the contracted completion date, in time for the opening of the Royal Adelaide Show.

Fast Facts:

1 MW system, consisting of over 12,500 panels over six roof tops
40 per cent of the showground’s annual power needs provided
Delivered over two months ahead of programme
Australia's largest roof top solar panel system when delivered

Creative Construction

Creative Construction

The project introduced several construction innovations including a special rack-loading system, with solar panels stacked on pallets, which was lifted onto the roof by crane and then distributed via trolleys on framing rails. A clip-on extrusion framing system minimised the number of holes that needed to be drilled in the roof.

To install the panels, drilling rigs were custom-made for each of the major roofs, while cloth and mesh screens prevented drilling waste from entering the stormwater collection system.