Retailing giant Aldi is installing a 92.3kW solar system on its retail store in Tweed Heads, in northern New South Wales,in what could be the start of a widespread roll-out of solar PV on its Australian stores.
Aldi is installing solar on a number of its stores in the US and Europe, and is considering doing the same in Australia, following the trends set by IKEA and Woolworths, and also the shopping centre owners GPT and Stockland.
Oliver Hartley, the head of solar power systems and energy consultancy Epho, which is doing the Tweed Heads project, says that the installation is a sign that the commercial part of the solar rooftop market is maturing, and recognising the ability to offset significant amounts of electricity demand.
“What excites me about it is that the big companies are finally moving,” Hartley told One Step Off The Grid. “They are not racing, but they are taking step by step very deliberately and following through with what they have done overseas.
“I take great encouragement from this, that we will have a rational, professional market in Australia moving forward.”
Aldi says energy management and sustainability is a key part of its operations>
“We will closely monitor this new trial at ALDI Tweed Heads in a bid to continue to identify and implement cost effective opportunities and do our part for the future of our environment,” a spokesperson said.
The Tweed Heads solar system will be 92.3 kW using Winaico modules and Enphase Microinverters.
Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of One Step Off The Grid, and also edits and founded Renew Economy and The Driven. He has been a journalist for 35 years and is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review.
