Sunny future for solar manufacturing in regional Queensland
By The Queenslander staff
From the biggest solar power-producing car park in Australia, to powering the National Zoo in Canberra, one Mackay-based business is proving the future jobs and economics of the renewables manufacturing industry are already here.
Queensland Police has also begun powering some communications towers with solar and the military is also interested, according to Linked Group.
The company has evolved from a pure mining services company to one of Queensland’s leading providers of renewable energy solutions, including its commercial and residential solar car ports.
Linked Group is providing smaller solar kits for miners and construction sites that preclude the need for the usual diesel generator on site, helping those operations manage their emissions.
The company is responsible for the 500-space solar car park at Willows Shopping Centre in Townsville and will this year install its EcoPort to provide 120 kilowatts of energy that will take Canberra’s National Zoo off the grid.
Linked Group managing director Jason Sharam told The Queenslander the ongoing adoption of solar was one of “economics” – and the company can prove that itself.
The Mackay headquarters of Linked Group has been operating off the Queensland electricity grid on solar power and a Tesla battery for the past three years, powering its manufacturing facility that employs 60 workers.
“We’ve saved more than $100,000 in three years and our investment will have paid itself off in about six years. All the kit is warranted for ten years but is likely to last 20 years so it’s’ a bit of a no-brainer,” Mr Sharam said.
“The reality is it’s about economics. If it’s cost-effective why wouldn’t you do it?
“When you want to take your own business off-grid, you can be assured that this concept has been fully tried and tested by us, which will enable you to supply your customers with products produced by 100% renewable energy just like we do.
Mr Sharam said politicians were “five years behind the reality” of what is going on in solar powered infrastructure.
Mr Sharam also anticipates future potential markets in the construction and home hire space and emergency services.
According to the Australian Government, Queensland currently boasts 44 large-scale renewable energy projects.
This equates to $9.9billion of investment, 7,000 construction jobs and 5,156 megawatts of clean energy.
Mr Sharam said jobs were being created in Queensland in renewables.
“Just look at the investment in hydrogen going into Gladstone. They are not doing it for fun, they are doing it for the economic opportunity.”
