Mekong Keilor East Aged Care
Overcoming Unique Challenges for Energy Independence
Industry: Healthcare
System Size: 48kw Solar System
About Mekong Keilor East Aged Care
Westview Aged Care, a busy 65-bed facility providing round-the-clock care, was experiencing the pinch of escalating electricity bills. The relentless operation of vital medical equipment, comprehensive IT systems, and critical support infrastructure meant continuous, high energy demand.
Much like its sister facility in Cairnlea, where AVT Solar had already delivered a successful solar installation, Westview also faced reliability issues due to occasional power outages in their area. Leveraging a trusted 20-year relationship with AVTech Group for their ICT and telecom services, the client approached AVT Solar once again, seeking a robust solar solution to both slash costs and guarantee uninterrupted energy security.
The Challenge
This project presented its own set of distinct challenges, demanding a clever and precise approach:
- Delicate Terracotta Roof: The facility's aging terracotta roof required an incredibly cautious installation strategy to prevent any damage, all while optimising the placement of every single solar panel.
- Restricted Footprint: With limited overall roof space and specific requirements for inverter placement, AVT Solar needed to design a sophisticated distributed array system, spreading panels efficiently across multiple sections of the roof.
- Maintaining Calm Operations: Crucially, the installation had to proceed with absolute minimal disruption to the facility's sensitive medical and life-support operations, ensuring resident comfort and safety were never compromised.
The Solution
Undeterred by the complexities, AVT Solar designed and expertly installed a 48 kW solar system at Westview Aged Care. This intricate design maximised energy capture by intelligently utilising the constrained roof space across multiple arrays.
The Result
The results speak for themselves:
- Significant Cost Savings: All generated power is efficiently consumed on-site, eliminating any grid exports and translating into substantial savings, with an estimated 30% reduction in electricity bills.
- Rapid Return on Investment: The system delivered an impressive 3-year payback period, demonstrating a high return on their investment.
- Enhanced Energy Security: Westview now benefits from enhanced energy independence, significantly reducing their vulnerability to power outages.
Building on the success of both the Westview and Cairnlea projects, the client has once again partnered with AVT Solar to design and implement a large-scale battery storage system. AVT Solar is providing comprehensive support through feasibility studies and grant applications, mirroring the successful approach taken with their Cairnlea facility.
A Partnership Built on Trust
The innovative deployment of distributed arrays to expertly navigate the limitations of the terracotta roof truly showcased AVT Solar's exceptional expertise. This project stands as a testament to our ability to adapt to even the most challenging structural conditions, consistently delivering tailor-made energy solutions that precisely meet our clients' critical needs.
