36kWp / 30kVA SOLAR PV ROOF-MOUNTED SYSTEM
175 Illawarra Cr, Ballajura WA 6066
Commissioned January 2024
Perdaman Advanced Energy (PAE) was awarded the tender to design and install a 36 kWp/ 30 kVA solar PV system for Ballajura Primary School as a part of the Department of Education’s Schools Clean Energy Technology Fund Program.
The System features 72 high-efficiency Trina Solar 500 W panels spread across three different buildings within the school complex and integrated with 2 robust Fronius Symo 15.0-3-M inverters, providing reliable and scalable renewable energy to support the City’s sustainability goals. The system was fully commissioned and brought online in January 2024.
Project Objectives:
Rooftop solar enables the school to generate its own electricity, reducing dependence on the main power grid. It not only reduced the impact of rising energy costs but also delivered long-term financial savings by offsetting grid electricity consumption through sustainable, onsite generation. It also aligns with Western Australia’s Climate Policy, which targets net-zero emissions by 2050 and aims to improve climate resilience across sectors.
The Installation methodology accommodated the following within the system:
- The roof featured skylight sheeting made of polycarbonate and fiberglass, which posed a structural and safety risk for panel mounting. The design team carefully identified these areas as restricted zones and excluded them from the panel layout. During installation, these zones were clearly marked, and mounting was limited to structurally sound sections of the roof without compromising the performance.
- The design and engineering teams strategically customised the solar system across two separate buildings to optimise energy production and load distribution. This approach improved efficiency and significantly reduced infrastructure costs, such as cabling and installation complexity.
Operational Insights:
The system incorporates smart monitoring and provides real-time, hourly consumption and generation data, enabling detailed monitoring, performance analysis, and improved energy management. Through intelligent energy management, the system adapts to the school’s consumption patterns, ensuring maximum utilisation of solar power during peak generation hours. On a typical school day, the system generates approximately 215.94 kWh of electricity, matching the school’s daytime energy demand as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Ballajura Primary School Monitoring – 29th January 2025
In accordance with Western Power regulations for commercial solar systems, export capacity is restricted to minimise the impact on the local grid. As such, this system has been configured with an export limit of 1.5 kW, ensuring that minimal to no excess energy is exported to the grid.
Carbon Footprint Reduction and Financial Savings
On an annual basis, the system is projected to offset around 87.4 tonnes of CO₂, significantly contributing to the school’s sustainability targets and environmental objectives.
In addition to the environmental benefits, the school has achieved a reduction of over 62 % in annual electricity costs. These savings allow for the redirection of operational expenses towards enhancing educational programs and infrastructure development, supporting long-term value for the school community.
