Solar panel power for Lizard Island

Sanyo has completed a fully backed up HIT solar panel installation at the Australian Museum’s Lizard Island research station in Far North Queensland.

The installation includes 144,210 W HIT solar modules capable of producing a huge 30 kW of power. As well as the solar panel installation, the set-up is fully backed up, featuring both battery and diesel generators to ensure reliability of power at all times in a remote location.

Lizard Island Research Station Director Lyle Vail said the installation would significantly reduce the station’s carbon footprint and it would help establish it as a model for renewable energy:

“Lizard Island is a remote, environmentally sensitive area located on a national park and surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The station is a leading international facility for research into coral reefs and reliability of power supply is critical. The demand for power is substantial and the station is busier than ever before, supporting more than 8000 person-nights per year. This installation will reduce the amount of diesel fuel used to generate electricity by more than 50%. It has been an eye-opener to see the relatively small area of solar panels that is needed to supply power for this remote community.”

In-house electrical engineer Bob Lamb was at the centre of the planning and implementation of the system and he aims to ensure the installation maintains maximum efficiency: “The Sanyo HIT solar panels were the perfect choice for our needs. They are incredibly efficient, especially in the high temperatures that we experience in Far North Queensland. The panels are mounted above rooms that house the batteries and the control system. Integration of the solar system enables our diesel generators to run at a higher output for optimal fuel efficiency. Excess power produced by the solar panels and generators is stored in the batteries for powering the station at night.”

The Lizard Island solar panel installation uses Sanyo’s HIT technology. Innovative HIT (heterojunction with intrinsic thin-layer) cells combine technology from two common solar cells in the marketplace, crystalline and amorphous, to create a more efficient and effective solar cell. Sanyo’s HIT 210 W solar panel (HIP210NKHE6) features a solar efficiency rating as high as 16.7%, resulting in more power generated per square metre.