Rossmoyne and Shelley aged care providers turning to solar in bit to cut costs

AGED care providers are turning to solar to help cut costs and provide a more sustainable service.

Perdaman Advanced Energy (PAE) recently announced a $700,000 solar energy system project across five Southern Cross Care sites in Perth, including aged care villages in Rossmoyne and Shelley.

Premises in Forrestfield, Success and Rivervale also had the 328kW solar photovoltaic systems installed, PAE managing director Dominic Da Cruz said.

The systems are expected to provide 19 to 30 per cent of the power required by each site.

It also helped Bethanie to identify total electricity costs by more than $250,000 annually and the solar company is working with a developer to create a microgrid ensuring lower cost electricity for residents of its retirement villages.

“Aged care is a growth sector in terms of investment and growth, so factors such as energy use become more important in the overall success of facilities,” Mr Da Cruz said.

“The Government’s recently released Aged Care Roadmap focuses on the creation of a sustainable and consumer-driven system for the industry so it makes perfect sense for solar energy to play a significant role.”