St Marys Rugby League Club will invest $6 million to install 1,220 solar panels on its car park canopies, as the club moves towards reducing its environmental footprint.
The solar panels are expected to provide 672-kilowatt (kW) of solar energy and create 225 undercover car spaces. The installation work, which will be managed by FDC Building, will commence in July.
This installation work will follow on from stage one when the club installed in February 820 solar panels on its roof, generating 451KW of solar power.
Based on a feasibility study, the club’s stage one investment has already started to pay dividends. According to the club, the study indicated the solar panels would deliver a return on investment (ROI) in seven years, however with increasing energy costs, early indications show an ROI could be achieved within five years.
Once stage two is completed, the two solar panel systems will be able to power the entire club during daylight hours, the club said.
“We know how important sustainability and reducing the club’s impact on the environment is to our members and the community. That’s why the club’s Board has made this commitment and investment to environmental sustainability as a fundamental aspect of our operations,” St Marys Rugby League Club CEO Rod Desborough said.
The solar installation is what the club is describing as the “crowning jewels” of its sustainability strategy. It’s in addition to other sustainability initiatives already in place including water harvesting; glass and paper recycling; installation of LED lighting throughout the club, car park and stadium; and food wastage reduction.
The club believes the sustainability strategy addresses both economic and environmental issues in a time where the club needs to protect itself from increasing energy costs and supply, and be a community leader in promoting environmental initiatives.
“We need to measure, manage, and reduce the club’s impact on the environment,” Desborough said.
“Using renewable solar energy will help make club operations more self-sufficient, reduce greenhouse emissions and be an immediate cost saving for the club, which can pour investment into other customer service areas as well as junior league development.”
St Marys Rugby League Club’s solar panel installation follows in the footsteps of many other clubs in Euston, Rich River, Moama, and Mulwala located along the Murray River. In recent time, Mittagong RSL and Goulburn Soldiers have also installed solar panels.
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Great to see this… our team have helped many Clubs install Solar PV with Canterbury Leagues and Fairfield RSL the most recent. With the payback period being so short it makes financial and environmental sense. Note carpark structures for PV add significant costs to an installation.