Moreton Bay Research Station

The Moreton Bay Research Station (MBRS) is on the Moreton Bay side of North Stradbroke Island, in the community of Dunwich.

A 40 kWp rooftop PV system was installed on MBRS in November 2011.

The PV installation at MBRS is part of several initiatives aimed to reduce the environmental footprint and increase the sustainability of the research station. For example, an evacuated tube solar hot water system has also been installed.

The 40kWp installation at MBRS is spread across three buildings: the Facilities Block, 13.5 kWp (library, cafeteria, and administration); the accommodation block, 14.5kWp; and the teaching and research block, 12 kWp. Modules were placed parallel with the roof lines resulting in various tilt and orientation angles.

Given both the high cost of electricity on the island and the extensive use of the MBRS by visiting students and conference attendees, the station was considered an important site to demonstrate sustainable technologies.

Many parts of the south-east Queensland electricity grid are becoming supply constrained making it important to investigate ways to reduce peak loads and shift the balance between peak and off-peak power consumption.

Consideration is being given to using the MBRS, which is at the end of a long electricity supply line, as a practical case study to demonstrate how PV installations can be integrated with other energy technologies (such as battery storage) to reduce peak loads.

Moreton Bay Research Station
The Moreton Bay Research Station is on the Moreton Bay side of North Stradbroke Island.
The evacuated tube solar hot water system (right) also helps to reduce the demand on mains power.

 

Site nameMoreton Bay Research Station
Building / locationAccommodation, Teaching/Research and Facilities Blocks
Suburb / cityDunwich, North Stradbroke Island, 4183
Nominal DC output40 kWp
Module area284.44 m2
Start-up dateJan 2012 (planned)
Visible on Live Data displayNo
Date connected to displayEarly 2012 (planned)
Site longitude153°24'60" E
Site latitude27°29'48"
Height above sea level8-15 metres
Time zoneAEST
Type of installationRooftop installation (elevated)
Tracking systemNo tracking system
TiltVarious ±5 ° Parallel with Roof Lines
OrientationVarious: 60°; 240°; 330°
Module make & modelPolycrystalline silicon
Module technologySchott Poly 235 watt Solar Panel
Module size1685 x 993mm
Number of modules170
Inverter make & modelAurora Power-One PVI-12.5-OUTD/-S
Number of inverters3