Case Study

Frenchville Sports Club

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Project Size:

370kW Solar Car Shade

 

In late 2022, Frenchville Sports Club embarked on an ambitious journey to enhance their customer experience and showcase their commitment to sustainability by including a Solar Car Shade in their renovation. Partnering with Smart Commercial Solar, the club aimed to install an aesthetic and functional addition to their car park, providing much needed shade to their patrons. By January 2023, the contract was signed, and by July 2024, the system was energised. This case study explores the challenges, solutions, and results of this innovative project. 

Key Project Stats

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Annual generation of 655 MWh

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Annual CO2 reduction of 524 t

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38% reduction in reliance on fossil fuels

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Annual savings of approximately $100,000

 

THE CHALLENGE

The Frenchville Sports Club, located in Rockhampton, Queensland, faced several challenges while implementing the solar car shade project. As an established site with a carpark that remained open throughout the construction, it required meticulous coordination to ensure minimal disruption for its 27,000 members. Managing construction on an operational site always demands high levels of communication and collaboration – in this project, for example, over 250m of trenching were dug, with stakeholders working together to minimise disruption. 

Rockhampton is located within a cyclone rated wind zone, so this was a critical consideration for the engineering team when designing the racking system for the 370kW shade. 

"We had to pay close attention to the engineering of the structure as well as adding an additional rail within our solar mounting system, which was needed to meet their Wind Zone standard” noted Anastasi Kotoros, who was responsible for initiating the project at Smart Commercial Solar. Ensuring the structural integrity of the car shade while maintaining aesthetic appeal was paramount. 

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THE SOLUTION

Smart Commercial Solar decided to use Solar Car Parks as the structural partner for this project. This system represented the best intersection of aesthetics and budget, which were important factors for the client. A 370kW array was designed to cover a total of 197 car spots, including 92 shade sail-covered spots. The solar component of the car shade structure features 622 bifacial solar panels which generates 370kW of power, significantly reducing the club’s load. 

The collaboration between Frenchville and Smart Commercial Solar was rooted in shared values of sustainability and innovation. "When you do the right planning with the right people, anything can come together," said Damien Massingham, CEO of Frenchville. This partnership ensured that despite the hurdles, the project progressed smoothly, with creative solutions for every challenge. 

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"When you do the right planning with the right people, anything can come together."

- Damien Massingham, CEO of Frenchville Sports Club.

 

Anastasi highlighted the comprehensive approach taken by Smart. "We provided a full turnkey project management service for not only the solar, but also the shade cloth components. The system was sized to provide the best ROI, limiting the amount of export generated and ensuring the club could use all the energy themselves. In the end, the system is going to generate almost 40% of their power, which is great. If we went any larger, it would start to have a diminishing return." 

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THE RESULTS

The solar car shade project was officially launched on June 5th, 2024, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by key stakeholders and government ministers. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with members and stakeholders alike praising the initiative. 

The system's impact on the club's operations is substantial: 

  1. Annual generation of 655 MWh 
  2. Annual CO2 reduction of 524 t 
  3. 38% reduction in reliance on fossil fuels 
  4. Annual savings of approximately $100,000 

These savings allow the club to reinvest in the community, particularly in supporting sporting activities. "There were hurdles, but we found answers where necessary by following our values that we always believe there’s a solution to any problem. It was good to work with a business with similar values, who find creative ways to get the job done," added Damien. 

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“There were hurdles, but we found answers where necessary by following our values that we always believe there’s a solution to any problem. It was good to work with a business with similar values, who find creative ways to get the job done.” 

Damien Massingham

CEO of Frenchville Sports Club

THE SUMMARY

The Frenchville Sports Club's solar car shade project stands as a testament to the power of strategic planning and strong partnerships. By integrating sustainable practices into their master plan, the club has not only enhanced member comfort but also significantly reduced its environmental footprint. 

Looking ahead, Smart Commercial Solar and Frenchville Sports Club provisioned for future battery storage and electric vehicle charging stations to further enhance their sustainability efforts. "As demand increases and others start following the Frenchville lead, the price of batteries will come down, allowing us to store more power and rely less on non-renewable sources," noted Damien. 

Smart Commercial Solar looks forward to continuing this partnership, helping Frenchville Sports Club achieve its long-term sustainability goals and setting a benchmark for other clubs to follow. 

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