3 minute read
VIC/TAS
VIC/TAS branch Report
Members of the IHEA Vic-Tas branch, along with Health services across the Loddon Mallee Region of Victoria and Health Purchasing Victoria, jointly entered into a cluster sourcing purchasing agreement to provide 12 installations of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across 11 regional health services. We are proud to be part of this project that has created so many opportunities and positive outcomes for our hospitals, communities, government and the environment in which we live.
Solar Photovoltaic Systems – Loddon Mallee Region Background.
The solar PV installations will form an aggregated solar capacity of 1,637 megawatt-peak (MWp) from the solar
panels to be installed across the 12 sites. The largest installation is at Echuca Regional Health Service, which will ultimately have 1386 solar panels.
The installed systems will provide a projected 15.7% of the hospitals’ combined electricity requirement ranging from 6% for a large hospital site, adding to an existing system, up to 27% for one of the rural hospitals. There will be a reduction in operational energy costs by a conservative estimate of $550,000 per annum, once fully operational which includes around $397,000 in solar production value and further savings in reduced demand and LGC values as determined at the time contracts were awarded. The systems will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 2,266 tonnes CO2-e per annum.
Table of contracted systems
Health Service
Castlemaine Hospital Echuca Hospital Heathcote Hospital Inglewood Hospital Kerang District Hospital Kyneton Hospital Kyabram Hospital Robinvale - Manangatang Hospital Ouyen Hospital Sealake Hospital Rochester Hospital Swan Hill Hospital
Solar PV capacity (kilowatt-peak)
200 500 89 60 89 200 99 20 80 50 150 100
Total 1637
The Regional Health Solar Program is a Victorian state government initiative which allocated $10 million in loan funding in 2017-18 and 2018-19 to assist regional health services to install solar PV systems to reduce their energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
This funding will purchase sufficient solar PV to self-generate more than 14 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable electricity annually, replacing 3% of state-wide hospital electricity consumption – and up to 30% of the electricity required by some of the regional hospitals.
The first tranche of tender offers was released in April 2018, following a successful pilot with health services in the Gippsland region. Three further rounds of tender offers during 2018-19, conducted in the Grampians, Hume and LoddonMallee regions.
Key messages
• The ‘cluster sourcing ’ approach collectively delivers the best value outcome, taking into account criteria encompassing financial, environmental, and regional benefits. • The approach aligns with Victoria ’s social procurement framework policy objectives towards sustainable
Victorian regions, and implementation of objectives of the Victorian Climate Change Act.
Learnings from this programming that may help others planning similar projects.
• Make sure you get a dilapidation and structural report of the buildings. • Check the panel type Mono or Polycrystalline, Mono have the greatest efficiency. • Does the system have shaded areas? Installing panel optimisers will increase the efficiency of the system , as a whole string of collectors are not adversely effected by one poor performer. • Check on warranties for major equipment lik e Cat scanners when using solar. • Generators … most solar generation systems are shut down when on site back-up generators are used on mains failure. Innovative technology is available to synchronise the solar and back-up generator systems, but will require further controls and financial investment. • If power is to be exported to the grid, make sure you know the requirements, limitations and the costs involved. • The photo shows one of the logistical challenges we faced when having to utilise crane lift to place solar panels in place . Check out the boom length.
