Heavy Industry, Heavy Savings: Grima Recycling’s Shift to Solar
Beating the Sunset on Rebates
Industrial recycling facilities are energy-intensive beasts. For Grima Recycling, electricity was a major operational overhead. However, the decision to switch to solar wasn’t just about the monthly bill—it was about timing.
In late 2023, the Federal Government’s Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) rebate rates were scheduled to drop on January 1st. The challenge was twofold:
Technical Complexity: The site required significant electrical infrastructure upgrades to handle a commercial-grade power plant.
The Deadline: The system had to be installed and commissioned before the end of the calendar year to secure a massive rebates.
High-Yield 99.6kW System
To maximize generation density on the industrial roof, the engineering team designed a system pushing the limits of the Low Voltage grid connection rules (just under 100kW).
System Specifications:
Solar Modules: 240 x Trina Solar Vertex S 415W. These split-cell modules are designed for high efficiency even in partial shading or industrial dust conditions.
Inverter: 1 x Sungrow SG110CX. A heavy-duty 110kW commercial inverter capable of managing the high current and providing granular monitoring.
Infrastructure: A complete Main Switchboard (MSB) upgrade to ensure safety and compliance with current standards.
The Outcome
The project required tight coordination between the sales team, the engineering department, and the client:
Obstacle: During the site inspection, it was identified that the existing distribution board was non-compliant for a system of this magnitude.
Action: The team quickly arranged a variation for a switchboard upgrade. Despite the tight timeline, approvals were secured from the client, and materials were delivered by mid-November.
Execution: Installation took place in mid-November 2023, ensuring the system was “on the roof” and capable of generating power well before the January 1st rebate drop.
Note on Compliance: The project also involved a complex meter upgrade coordinated with the retailer (Momentum Energy) to ensure the feed-in tariffs were correctly applied.
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Pets Domain
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Solar PV Systems
- Armidale, NSW
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System Size
- 45kW
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Annual Energy Savings
- $13,800