Unique marine solar specialist wins 2019 Australian 'Energy Business of the Year' Award
by Trish Chapallaz 4 Dec 2019 20:38 AEDT
eArche lightweight panels on dodger of yacht © solar4rvs.com.au
Lightweight solar specialist, Solar 4 RVs, (incorporating Solar 4 Boats and Solar 4 Industry) has won two awards at the MyBusiness Awards on Friday 15 November at the Star Event Centre in Sydney.
First, their innovations were acknowledged with the 'Energy Business of the Year' Award then at the end of the evening co-owner Trish was announced as the Australian 'Businesswoman of the Year' from ten finalists in the running for this title.
The founders and owners, Phil and Trish Chapallaz, said, "we are delighted to receive these prestigious Awards and to be recognised for our sector leadership in providing thin solar panels for marine and other off-grid mobile applications across Australia." Launched in 2014, the family-owned and operated company supports both businesses and the public.
"With technology rapidly evolving, we continuously explore, and invest, to stay at the forefront of what is most suitable for vehicles and vessels including boats, yachts, ferries, kayaks, houseboats and pontoons" says co-owner and engineer Phil. Solar 4 RVs stock the largest range of flexible solar panels in Australia and is the only company in Australia offering a design and advice service as well as engineered solutions and support for boat builders / repairers, marine electricians and aftermarket suppliers.
Specialist support for the marine sector
Solar 4 RVs has been supporting the marine sector for nearly six years. They provided eight Solbian solar panels and eight Genasun boost solar charge controllers for Lisa Blair's zero carbon emission yacht 'Climate Action Now' in her Antarctic circumnavigation. They also sponsored two Australians with solar on their kayak rowing across the Atlantic in the Talisker Whiskey Challenge.
Fifteen Solbian lightweight solar panels were installed onto the fully-electric catamaran 'Kato'. The black flexible solar panels were installed during the boat building process so they could be rebated into the deck in three rows of five panels. No junction boxes or cabling is visible as the panels were supplied with solder tabs underneath the panel." Tony Longhurst, a two-time Bathurst 1000 winner and owner of The Boat Works in Coomera had the luxury vessel 20m in length and about 8.6m wide built by the team at Noosa Marine.
Two solar-electric tourist ferries were each fitted with 18 thin, lightweight solar panels onto the canopies to provide whisper quiet service on the Swan River ensuring zero water or air pollution.
In Borneo traditional tourist vessels were fitted with 20 x 160W lightweight eArche solar panels to silently power air conditioners whilst river cruising to see the orangutans in their natural environment.
Thin and lightweight yet strong and durable for the toughest ocean environment
eArche solar panels are the cutting edge in lightweight solar panel technology with glass-fibre reinforced composite polymers similar to aircraft windows and a 25 year performance guarantee. Development of the new waterproof composite polymers and panel structure was accelerated by funding of $3.3M from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to achieve the same durability as conventional solar panels.
They have IEC61215 certification which defines requirements for PV modules suitable for long-term outdoor operation. They are rated 2400 pascals for wind and 2400 pascals for load plus hail tested with ice stones of 35mm diameter and 200g mass at 39.5m per sec so able to handle tough ocean condition.
The main advantage for vessels is how lightweight, thin and flexible panels are compared to heavy, thick rigid framed solar panels. Both the Solbian and eArche brand solar panels are only 2mm thin and weigh under 2kg for 100W. Both have a five year product warranty.
New bi-facial solar is a win for the marine environment
2FACE is the first semi-flexible solar panel in the world made with double-sided technology allowing greater power generation. It is a game-changer in that it is designed to absorb radiation not only from the front but also from the underside thanks to its F-HJT cell. This means reflection onto the underside of the 2mm thin panel will significantly boost energy harvest. The transparent backsheet of conductive oxide (TCO) allows reflected light to reach the rear of the HTJ cell, producing over 30% more electricity than single-sided panels.
Multi-award winning company
Solar 4 RVs multiple award wins highlight their commitment and expertise to do things differently. The latest two awards come off the back of winning the 2018 Australian Business Awards for Eco Innovation and being ranked in the top 50 innovative companies in the Australian SMART100 list.
Solar 4 RVs also received the 2018 APAC Excellence Award and they won the Optus MyBusiness Award in 2017 for Australian Retail Business of the Year and in 2015 they won Sustainability Initiative of the Year.