A remarkable piece of technology is cutting costs on the NSW freight route works
A mobile solar-powered generator is the new secret weapon that’s cutting costs for taxpayers and reducing the environmental impact from work being carried out along the Newell Highway.
Regional transport and roads minister Sam Farraway says the solar generator was being put to use for the first time by crews building new overtaking lanes on the $1.7 billion upgrade to the Newell Highway.
“The mobile-solar generator is the first of its kind being used on a NSW government major road upgrade project,” Farraway says.
“It will help offset emissions by saving about 615,000 kilograms of carbon and will save taxpayers more than $100,000 over the life of the project.
“In its first two weeks of operation on the Newell Highway project it saved more than 2800kg of CO2 emissions – the equivalent of charging 44,000 smartphones.”
Farraway says the NSW government is continuing to use this mobile solar-powered generator to fuel the Newell Highway upgrade to make daily life better.
The solar generator is ideal for work along the Newell as it is housed in a secure, 20-foot shipping container and can be packed up within 30 minutes, put on the back of a truck and be easily moved from project to project.
The NSW government says the generator is much quieter than a normal generator and there are fewer emissions, creating a better working environment.
“With the amount of work going on around regional NSW it’s vital as a government we look to new ways to deliver projects that saves money that can be reinvested into community assets and makes conditions more comfortable for workers,” Farraway says.
“The generator also collects and provides data that will help inform power consumption patterns for ongoing improvement, which could result in more potential savings.
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“What’s more, this generator is made by an Australian-owned company in BlackStump.”
BlackStump executive chairman Peter Galvin says it was the first time the technology had been used on a major road project.
“We believe this is the start of a movement that will over time see solar-powered generators replace diesel generators on infrastructure sites both throughout Australia and the rest of the world,” Galvin says.
“Quite simply, it is superior technology that never breaks down, it solves the carbon emission issue and it’s half the cost – what’s not to like?”.
The federal and NSW governments are jointly funding a $1.7 billion upgrade of the Newell Highway, with the federal government contributing $60 million to build new overtaking lanes and the NSW government contributing $168 million.