Sekisui House reveal plans for free energy with solar plan at The Orchards estate

DEVELOPER Sekisui House has revealed plans to provide residents of its masterplanned estate at Norwest with free electricity in common areas from one of the largest high-rise rooftop solar panel systems in the world.

There will be 24 tennis courts worth of solar panels to fuel free power plan.

DEVELOPER Sekisui House has revealed plans to provide residents of its masterplanned estate at Norwest with free energy in common areas.

Sekisui, which will develop a high-rise apartment building between six and 12 storeys every year until 2024 at The Orchards, will install one of the largest high-rise rooftop solar panel systems in the world.

The Orchards at Norwest.

The system will be the size of 24 tennis courts — a total of 6500sq m.

It will provide residents with 1GWh of energy each year for common areas, including the outdoor cinema and wellness centre.

Sekisui House marketing and operations manager Paul Wainwright said the system would save residents up to 35 per cent a year in utility costs.

The Orchards at Norwest will include a range of apartment sizes.

“Sekisui House is proud to offer future residents of its Norwest community some peace of mind in terms of their future energy costs, which for many Sydneysiders are becoming an increasing burden,” he said.

“The issue of affordable and renewable energy in Australia is one that affects everyone, from households increasingly feeling the pinch right through to small businesses.

The Orchards also features an outdoor cinema.

“So it’s little wonder that state leaders around the country are looking for answers and options for consumers.

“In real terms, not only will the cost of living become markedly better for residents of The Orchards but their property values will also benefit, with the obvious bonus of energy savings to this degree having a knock-on effect that results in lower community levies and strata costs.”

Rooftops will be covered with entertainment spaces or solar panels

Multi-utility company Flow Systems will install solar panelling to dominate the roof of several towers in the planned estate — reducing carbon emissions to the equivalent level of planting 15,000 trees a year.