Rowing club goes solar

Redback Technologies’ Smart Hybrid Solar Inverter System has been selected to optimise the energy use of Torrens Rowing Club as part of the club’s long-term strategy to operate sustainably in the future.

The Adelaide-based rowing club has promoted amateur rowing at all levels for over 110 years and boasts over 150 members, from beginners through to Olympians. It has also spent several years considering a solar installation, which will now become a reality thanks to a $5000 grant as part of Adelaide City Council’s Sustainable City Incentives Scheme.

The Redback system was selected over several other options by solar installer Keystones Solar Group. According to Keystones Partner and Consultant Ross Hendry, “We chose Redback’s system because it is upgradeable for future innovations.

“Its features enable the club to optimise self-consumption, it is easy to install, integrates with the battery technology we selected and qualified for the Adelaide incentive scheme.”

Launched in October 2015, the Smart Hybrid Solar Inverter System is based on the Microsoft Azure IoT Suite. Mike Haines, general manager of sales and marketing at Redback, said the product will “remain relevant no matter the innovations that develop down the track”.

“Redback is building the infrastructure for the next-generation grid, investing in an upgradeable solution that places the power in the hands of Australians who generate it and giving them control over how it’s used,” he said.

City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese, who was instrumental in initiating the Sustainable City Incentives Scheme, said the initiative is “all part of our ongoing commitment to make continuous availability of carbon-free renewable energy a reality”.

“The Torrens Rowing Club, Redback Technologies and Keystones Solar Group partnership is contributing to the community reduction of carbon emissions and is a great example of how adoption of emerging technologies in renewable energy can have a big impact,” he said.

Image caption: Ross Hendry and Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese.