OUR SOLAR PROGRAM

We’ve been energised!

We’re excited to announce that we’ve completed the final stage of work to install our roof top solar system at Colonnades.

Nearly 5,000 solar panels been laid and connected, which if laid end-to-end equals 10kms worth of solar or a trip to the McLaren Valley wine region from the centre! And even better, the 1.8 megawatts (MW) system is energised and already generating clean, renewable power.

We’ve joined the growing number of Vicinity centres able to utilise clean, renewable energy from solar installations to reduce reliance on the national grid, provide a buffer from the volatile energy market and make a positive environmental impact for the local community.

The addition of solar at Colonnades brings bring Vicinity even closer to the expected 31 MW total capacity in 2019. This will provide annual energy generation of over 48,500 MWh - enough to power the equivalent of 8,300 average Adelaide homes per year.

Executive General Manager Shopping Centre Management, Justin Mills said: The new solar installation at Colonnades is another demonstration of Vicinity’s ongoing commitment to, and investment in, renewable energy. By embedding innovation, such as solar, in our portfolio we can deliver shared value for our customers, retailers, investors and communities.

Centre Manager, Zoltan Heinrich said: We’ve learnt a great deal about renewable energy and reducing consumption through our work with our colleagues in the Vicinity Energy team. Their expertise has helped shape the success of our local solar program but also inspired the Colonnades team to think about how we can do more for the community when it comes to renewables and waste management.

Our national solar program includes several innovations and firsts for the Australian retail property sector, including Australia’s first retail battery, energy block chain trial, bifacial solar panel and solar glass trials.

Vicinity’s solar program is delivering intelligent energy destinations across its national centre portfolio to create greater resilience for the surrounding network, as well as shared value for customers, retailers, investors and the communities they live and operate in.

• SEIA’s Solar Means Business 2017 Report - https://www.seia.org/solar-means-business-report