Driving Carbon Reduction: Solar-Powered Construction Sites for METRONET Byford Rail Extension Project
Driving Carbon Reduction: Solar-Powered Construction Sites for METRONET Byford Rail Extension Project
The METRONET Byford Rail Extension Project team has implemented a multitude of renewable energy initiatives during the construction phase to minimise Scope 1 and 2 emissions, aiming to achieve net zero Scope 2 construction emissions for the project. The Byford Rail Extension Project worksites now have solar panels to help power Byford Station and Eleventh Road worksites, in partnership with SolPod and Select Site Solutions.
Challenges and outcomes
The Eleventh Road worksite is home to 70 ground-mounted solar panels with a 30kVa battery. This sustainable initiative uses batteries and solar panels during works to significantly reduce reliance on the diesel generator, saving an estimated 33,000 litres of diesel – the equivalent of taking 30 cars off the road per year.
There are another 70 solar panels on the roof of the Byford Station worksite. This 38.5kWp solar system is expected to replace up to 50% of grid energy with renewable energy and save approximately 27 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, the equivalent weight of 14 female rhinoceroses.
In addition, 6.6 kW of roof-mounted solar PV is installed to power the site accommodation office at 41 Commerce Avenue in Armadale. This worksite is connected to the electricity grid but will not only have power substituted by renewable energy, it will also offset all electricity purchased through green power offsets.
These initiatives support the METRONET Sustainability Strategy, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from materials and energy across the programme’s design and delivery phases by 20%.
Next steps
- Ongoing implementation and monitoring of renewable energy initiatives,
- Continuing alignment with the METRONET Sustainability Strategy.
