Crowne Plaza Alice Springs has set the benchmark for Australia’s hotel industry when it switched on the largest building mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system in the Southern Hemisphere.

The $3.3 million PV installation will reduce the hotel’s energy consumption by 40 to 80 per cent dependant on the time of year, with the energy efficiency program further reducing consumption by 18 per cent.

A technician investigates the possibility of introducing
solar-panel surfing at the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs

Lloyd Berger, principal of Crowne Plaza Alice Springs owner, Investnorth Ltd, said he hopes other businesses will follow their example.

“Australia’s movement toward a green economy is not just about incorporating renewable energy technology into new buildings,” he said. “We should also concentrate on how existing infrastructure can be adapted to dramatically increase energy efficiency and we are pleased to be leading the way.”

Added Crowne Plaza Alice Springs general manager, Adam Glass: “We are located in one of the hottest parts of the country.  This means on one hand that we are a large consumer of energy, but on the other, we have access to a ready renewable resource to significantly offset that consumption. The water and energy savings that will result from our plans are staggering.”

The project is a joint initiative between Investnorth and the Federal Government, and is part of the Alice Solar City project – one of the seven cities selected for funding under the $94-million Solar Cities Program.