10 January 2011

Solar Shop Australia aims to drive a “tenfold increase” in the number of commercial solar power systems installed in Australia during the next three years after hiving off its commercial business into an independent commercial entity, SSA Commsolar Pty Ltd.

Commsolar GM, Frank Teofilo, says progressive Australian businesses particularly in isolated regional areas are looking for solar energy solutions. There is also demand for large-scale embedded generation on commercial and industrial rooftops.

Commsolar will target businesses and communities in remote areas who rely heavily on diesel-powered generators.

“Adding to the cost of transporting diesel to remote locations, the generators themselves can cost between 25 and 35 cents per kilowatt hour to run, making it an expensive exercise and costly to the environment,” Frank says.

“Many of Australia’s most isolated communities are located in solar favourable regions and there’s already a large number of commercial operations that could benefit financially by investing in solar power.

Frank claims solar can “easily substitute 20% to 30% of their power generation needs.

In 2009 the Commsolar team - then part of Solar Shop Australia installed the country’s largest commercial solar system, a 1 megawatt solar farm at the Adelaide Showgrounds.

“In light of the pending changes to Renewable Energy Targets, the time was right to separate the two divisions (of Solar Shop Australia) and embrace a more strategic approach that would ensure the differing needs of the two sectors were met,” Frank says, of the decision to separate from Solar Shop.

“Commercial clients are far more focused on how solar power can reduce their overheads, assist them to obtain price certainty and achieve their sustainability goals.

Frank Teofilo has more than two decades of experience in the energy sector, having held senior positions at Integral Energy, AquaSpy Group, BP Solar and Toro Australia.