Allkotes’ new solar array looks set to save the business up to a quarter of its annual energy costs.
The giant 100kw solar system has just been hooked up at the laminating and coating specialist’s Silverwater facility, marking Allkotes’ continued commitment to the environment and integrated new technologies and strategies.
A whopping 400 panels now cover nearly all of the factory’s 2000 square metre roof and took nearly five weeks to install, a major investment on all counts but Allkotes’ managing director, Graham Wickett, insists the benefits just can’t be ignored.
“We are expecting a 25% reduction in energy costs, which will be further enhanced by our ability to contribute to the grid,” he said.
The new system has been up and running for a short while, but already Wickett has noticed a sharpening in power consumption.
“A lot of places go for 40 or 50kw, but we use a lot of power in our industry, heating for laminating and spot UV, so we decided to go with a really decent sized system,” he said.
Wickett cites the ongoing challenges that have hit the industry over the past five years as clear motivation to embrace new ideas and technologies.
According to Wickett, the financial incentives go hand in hand with the social and environmental responsibilities addressed by this latest endeavour.
Allkotes has run an on-site filtration system for nearly ten years, authorised by Sydney Water to clean and process any leftover water-based adhesives for sewer disposal. A 2500L rainwater tank has also been added, and according to Wickett the site has been running fully recycled water through its laminators’ heating systems for five years now.
This is another step forward, and Wickett insists: “We plan to continue these ideals well into the future.”
- Allkotes Silverwater solar system
