Renewable Energy Project: Solar Panels and Battery
The Theatre Organ Society of Australia (SA) are a not-for-profit music society that exist to preserve and promote the theatre organ. In South Australia they host a theatre organ in the Capri Theatre, which they own. The Capri is staffed by almost 200 volunteers from the local community and all profits from running the Capri as a cinema, go back into the preservation of the organ and the maintenance of the heritage listed building.
The theatre has large power bills and has been proactive in addressing their energy efficiency. They have been unable to install solar panels in the past as the roof was not structurally suitable for traditional panels, however, new lightweight, slimline panels have made installing solar panels possible. Evening operating hours and rising energy prices have also made a battery financially viable for them. Importantly, the battery will store solar energy during the day and reduce the use of power from the grid in evening peak times playing a part in allowing for greater uptake of renewable energy across the grid.
CORENA Head of Operations, Sarah McCabe, and Capri Theatre General Manager, Rob Jordan, were interviewed on ABC Adelaide about the project. You can listen to an excerpt here.
Website – https://capri.org.au/
This project has been fully funded – Thank you!
Loan details
Loan amount: $155,303
Loan repayments: $7,765 per quarter
Status: Installed
Installation date: 8 May 2024, Commissioned 13 June 2024.
Work Details
71.8 kW solar electricity system 51.2 kWh battery 167 x 430W Sunman panels
2 x 20 kW Sungrow inverters
1 x 10 kW Sungrow hybrid inverter
2 x 25.6 kWh batteries (51.2 kWh)
Expected savings: 94,458kWhs and $32,500/annum
Reduction in carbon emissions/yr: 31 tonnes
“I pass the Capri Theatre regularly with its distinctive and attractive art deco style. A visit there is a special event. The amazing Wurlitzer Organ emerges slowly from beneath the stage, with a most beautiful and imposing sound resounding round the theatre prior to the commencement of a movie. It’s always a great start to an evening out.
On behalf of our wonderful donors who made this amazing project possible, CORENA is very pleased to have assisted the Capri theatre.”
Monica Oliphant AO, Patron, CORENA
“The Capri has been making a concerted effort to reduce its impact on the environment for a number of years, by upgrading to LED lighting, improving recycling efforts and purchasing compostable consumables. As a not-for-profit, run mostly by volunteers, the Capri is also very conscious of its expenditure. The rising cost of electricity makes transitioning to solar and battery powered energy the natural next step for the organisation right now and we are extremely grateful that this is possible for us through CORENA’s funding programme.”
Ian Carter, Chair, Capri Theatre