Australian synchrotron goes solar

The Australian Synchrotron is a major research facility located in Clayton, southeast Melbourne. The particle accelerator is one of Australia's most significant pieces of scientific infrastructure.

The installation of more than 3200 solar panels covering the rooftops of the main Australian Synchrotron building which houses the particle accelerator, the Australian Synchrotron Guesthouse, and the Environmentally Controlled Storage Facility was carried out over five months. The 1668 kWh system and inverter will supply part of the Australian Synchrotron’s total energy requirements and is expected to deliver savings of about AUD2 million (USD1.3 million) over the next five years.

The Australian Synchrotron building before it went solar (Image: ANSTO)
"Going solar was a no-brainer," Australian Synchrotron Director Michael James said. "The size of our rooftops, paired with the ample, uninterrupted exposure to sunlight at our location within the Monash precinct, was a major incentive for us to become more energy efficient." The saved running costs will be used to support operations as well as the expansion of research capabilities and facilities.

ANSTO is the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.