Radio station set to reduce emissions by 25%

A Hills District radio station in Sydney is taking a proactive step towards a greener and more financially sustainable future, thanks to a partnership with Solahart.

For more than 70 years, the not-for-profit Christian community radio station Hope 103.2 has been reaching over 696,000 listeners monthly from its Seven Hills base, and now it is demonstrating its commitment to the environment through a switch to clean, renewable energy.

With escalating energy prices, the station needed to bring down the running costs of its 1600 m² facility. After a long process of researching renewable energy solutions, it was agreed solar would be the right move, both financially and environmentally. But as a listener-funded station, it wasn’t a decision it could take lightly.

“We were about to experience skyrocketing energy costs with our new electricity retailer contract. This made exploring solar even more critical, not just to reduce bills but as a responsible decision for our community,” said Ben Archer, Hope 103.2 IT Systems Admin and Broadcast Engineer.

“We really needed to ensure it was the right investment for Hope 103.2 and our loyal listeners, and that we took the time to find the right solar provider for us. We had heard awful stories of solar providers being there one day and gone the next, so we did our due diligence to ensure we found a solar provider that has stood the test of time.”

The radio station commenced a formal tender process comparing nine different solutions from three vendors, and took feedback from an independent, large-scale solar provider.

“From the beginning it was clear Solahart was listening to our requirements and provided several suitable options for us to consider. They gave us confidence, not only in the technical solution but that we could trust them to deliver and support us into the future,” Archer said.

The Seven Hills facility had a set of unique installation challenges. The shading from the surrounding trees and an older roof on the main studio building, deemed unfit for a standard solar system, would need a custom design solution.

“It was clear Hope 103.2 would require a bespoke solar set-up to maximise their solar investment to address the aged infrastructure and significant tree shading,” Solahart Sydney Operations Manager Nathan Vale said. “In this instance, we chose to strategically place the 61.2 kW solar system with 136 high-efficiency Solahart 450 W panels on the sturdy back garages and rear office building, where the sunlight was most prominent.”

To further enhance the system’s performance and mitigate shading concerns, Solahart installed two SolarEdge Three Phase Inverters with 68 SolarEdge Optimisers and a SolarEdge monitoring system.

“This innovative technology provides Hope 103.2 with superior performance tracking, remote troubleshooting and improved safety features,” Vale said.

By installing the solar solution, the station will see a 25% reduction in grid energy consumption, annual savings exceeding $11,000, and a return on investment in approximately five years.

The project also qualified for government incentives through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, further offsetting the initial cost, ensuring more funds are invested back into the station.

“Our move to solar, facilitated by Solahart’s expertise, isn’t just about saving money on energy bills; it’s about investing in the future of our station and being able to deliver quality, faith-led content. As Christians, we believe in being good stewards of our planet, and this partnership with Solahart allows us to live out that commitment, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of Hope 103.2,” Archer said.

Image caption: The Solahart solar system installed at Hope 103.2 radio station’s Seven Hills facility in Sydney. Image: Supplied.