As one of the largest lift and escalator operators globally, Schindler was looking for ways to reduce their operating costs and their carbon emissions at their Wellington branch by installing solar on their commercial property. Also improving their ESG rating.
Located in Wellington, notorious for high wind zones, the commercial property featured a membrane roof where the solar panels needed to be installed. These surfaces are notoriously unforgiving; any standard penetration risks voiding warranties and causing structural leaks.
We view complex engineering requirements as an opportunity to showcase our “Craftsman” approach. For this project, we collaborated directly with a specialised membrane roofer to integrate suitably rated mounting bars designed specifically for this roof type.
To ensure long-term safety in this high wind zone, the entire solar mounting design received formal sign-off by a structural engineer, arranged by us.
The Outcome for Scene Apartments
After installing solar panels, here’s the impact:
Total Power Output: 39,675 kWh per year
Total Panels: 57
Estimated Savings over 20 years: $84,880
Internal rate of return: 12.7% (Note a higher IRR due to the added cost of the roof fixings for this specific type of roof)
The Hardware
Solar Panels: 57 x Trina Solar Vertex S+ 440W N-type Dual Glass modules
Solar Inverters: 1 x Sungrow SG30CX Premium (29.9 kW AC output)
Total Capacity: 25.08kW DC / 30kW AC
Mounting: Clenergy and Smart Bars for the membrane roof
