Alice Springs Airport wins PowerWater Melaleuca Award

Alice Springs Airport’s Solar Power Station was last night announced winner of the Commercial/Industry catergory in this year’s 2011 PowerWater Melaleuca Awards.

The Solar Power Station entry faced four other finalists in the Commercial/Industry category from ISIS Group Australia, Aquatreat NT, Charles Darwin University and Spotless Facilities Services.

Alice Springs Airport General Manager Katie Cooper said she was delighted with the win and thanked Power and Water Corporation and the judges for the award.

“The Melaleuca Awards are coveted by business and community groups throughout the Territory. Every year the competition gets stronger and this year was no exception with five finalists in the category of Commercial/Industry presenting outstanding projects”, she said.

Alice Springs is the first Australian airport to have a large scale (over 100kW) Solar Power Station providing a direct source of renewable energy to its internal grid. The project was officially launched in November 2010 and now supplies about 28 per cent of the airport’s energy needs.

“This project at Alice Springs Airport took about four years from conception to completion and showed incredible initiative and foresight from all involved. Our airport takes sustainability very seriously and we continue to invest heavily in projects that lessen our impact on the environment,” said Ms Cooper.

The project, valued at $2.3 million, received a grant of $1.132 million from the Australian Government, as part of the Alice Solar City Project.

National solar energy specialist Ingenero was the principal contractor for the solar power station, which is located about 700 metres north-west of the terminal building.

The 7m x 8m arrays follow the sun throughout each day, creating clean, renewable energy for the airport.

Northern Territory Airports CEO Ian Kew said “The Solar Power Station has reduced Alice Springs Airport’s carbon emissions by the equivalent of about 70 Alice Springs households per annum. I’m very proud of the team that brought this project to fruition and congratulate them on their win last night, it’s a tremendous achievement.”