Excellence in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Management

Willows Solar Car Park Townsville by Linked Constructions Pty Ltd

TheWillows Solar Car Park project involves a total of 23 structures covering three parking areas, with a total of 500 carparks covered.

Linked Group Services director Peter Shaw said the winning project was designed, manufactured and installed by their own experienced team.

“Four hundred plus tonnes of steel structure was cut, fabricated and coated, utilising 100 per cent renewable energy at our Powerhouse complex in Mackay,” Peter said.

“We utilised our in-house developed, unique, panel mounting system called Eco Rail that enables the solar panel to create a weatherproof barrier to the elements and enable management of water and cyclonic weather conditions experienced in Northern Australia.”

Peter said the win was an acknowledgment that Linked Group Services was the go-to people for Solar Carport Structures.

“No other company can provide the quality, manufacturing and construction under one roof,” he said.

“It’s proof that our off-grid manufacturing complex destroys the narrative that commercial baseload power is not achievable with renewables.”

The project was designed by Linked Group Services and certified by local engineer Steve Mckenzie to suit local wind and rainfall conditions.

“Linked Constructions then set about integrating a coating regimen suitable for northern coastal conditions, galvanising by Australian Professional Galvanisers and Linked Constructions’ in-house NACE certified coatings specialist to deliver a product that guaranteed long life against corrosion and also blended the ‘Surfmist’ colour requirement to match existing structures,” Peter said.

“To facilitate water management, reduce installation time and remove hazards of working at height, the use of Linked Constructions’ patented solar rail mounting system, Eco Rail, was incorporated into the design. This product enables the installation of in excess of 130kw of panels daily with a crew of three tradesmen.

“This level of install is many times more efficient than any other system worldwide.”

The system negates the need to leave the safety of EWPS, unlike standard construction methods.

And the Eco Rails method of encapsulating solar panels entirely, increases security in cyclonic conditions and gives an impervious cover against water. The project was delivered in time and on budget over a nine week period prior to Christmas.

“Linked Construction demobilised from site to allow for resurfacing work to be done by others and remove us from public interaction over the busy Christmas break,” Peter said.

“We returned in January for a further nine weeks to complete construction and solar install of the 1.4 megawatts of solar.”