This week in solar updates we have seen Victoria shut-up-shop in residential solar but take off in a Melbourne airport solar farm installation.
Melbourne’s Tullamarine Solar Update
As COVID-19 annihilates the aviation industry and sends Melbourne back into a stage 4 lockdown, the Tullamarine airport aims to make the most of the reduced traffic by installing a 12.4MW solar farm, which will ultimately be able to power all four terminals.
Due to be completed in 2021 (dependent on level 4 restriction delays), the solar farm will be one of the largest behind-the-meter solar installations in Australia. Set to generate 17GWh of electricity every year, the solar installation will fulfill almost 15% of the airport’s consumption needs.
Developed by Beon Energy Solutions and contracted with Next General Electrical, the Tullamarine solar team have used Canadian Solar monofacial panels to minimise panel glare around the runways. The myth around solar reflection negatively impacting airway procedures has recently been debunked by CSIRO in a 
report on the green hydrogen potential of the aviation industry where they stated that “traditional silicon panels primarily absorb rather than reflect light.â€
For more on this story visit pv magazine.
Victorian COVID-19 Stage 4 Solar Restrictions
As mentioned in last week’s solar energy update, solar was deemed an essential service for Victorians in the first wave of COVID restrictions, however, this time around it isn’t such good news.
After a nervous wait throughout the week, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services finally announced that solar installation would not go ahead under the stage 4 solar COVID restrictions.
Although solar panels are not to be installed on occupied residential properties under the new legislation, installation can occur on construction sites and residential renovation sites where the property is vacated.
In addition, the restrictions do allow critical repairs to solar systems in emergency situations when safety becomes a concern.
What Should I do?
If You Are An Installer
If you are an installer and you have been affected by these restrictions, Business Victoria has set up a COVID-19 business support and Industry Coordination Centre.
The Industry Coordination Centre is designed to update businesses on the latest information, provide key COVIDsafe training, supply worker permits and offer avenues for financial support.
If You Are Looking To Install Solar
With electricity usage at an all-time high (damn working from home!), solar is an excellent chance to reinvent the way you approach electricity bills.
If you are looking to install solar, now is the best possible time to research the perfect solar solution for your needs. Solar Market provides a trove of updates, articles and reviews on everything solar. If you are ready to research just head to our blog section by clicking here.
If your renovating or currently building a home, take the solar quiz and start getting quotes from today.
