Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre installs 1.3 MW solar system

Next Green Group (NGG) has completed the installation of a 1.3 MW rooftop solar system at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC). Utilizing AIKO’s Comet series All Back Contact (ABC) modules, the project achieved a capacity increase of more than 50% over the original 850 kW tender.

The installation successfully addressed complex structural and shading challenges posed by the venue’s curved roof, tower structures, and cables. The shade-tolerant ABC technology allowed for a flush-mount design that captures energy from areas that would typically be excluded in conventional solar arrays.

Owned and operated by the State Electricity Commission (SEC) under an agreement with the State Sport Centres Trust, the system began operating in September. It is projected to generate over 1 GWh of renewable electricity annually, covering approximately one-quarter of the facility's electricity requirements.