Enphase Energy // Success Story // Enterprise Street Self Storage
Self-Storage Facility Becomes
Self-Producing Energy Source
CHALLENGE
Bring an end to expensive
electricity bills by offsetting large
consumption loads during peak
business hours
SOLUTION
Design a PV solar system with
microinverter technology that
accommodates the facility’s twopeak consumption pattern
RESULT
Safe and reliable system provides
reduced power bills year round
“Enphase microinverters
meant our client could
reliably match energy
consumption and
minimise wastage.”
— Mike Trust
Co-Founder
Sunworks Solar Centre
Storage facility owners know emergency lighting and 24/7
video surveillance demand constant and significant power.
Enterprise Street Self Storage, with the help of Sunworks
Solar Centre and Enphase technology, uses solar to slash its
energy expense.
Microinverters Get the Job Done
Enterprise Street Self Storage prides itself on being the most modern self-storage
centre in Caloundra, on the Sunshine Coast, offering customers the peace of mind
that comes with on-site security lighting, 24-hour CCTV security cameras, and
seven day access to individual storage units. Additional motion sensing lighting
systems also play a large role in the facility’s energy need during the day’s main visiting hours—morning and afternoon. And while those perks attract new customers
daily, Enterprise’s owners must face the high electricity bills that come as a result.
Enphase Energy // Success Story // Enterprise Street Self Storage
That’s where Sunworks Solar Centre came in. To offset the peaks
in demand, they installed a 17.94kW PV system capable of providing maximum power production.
“Before we came in to quote the project, Enterprise had also
been quoted for string inverters,” said Mike Trust, Co-Founder of
Sunworks Solar Centre. “But string inverters could only accommodate major consumption during the middle of the day. Enphase,
on the other hand, allowed Enterprise to design a system that
would match their two-peak consumption pattern and minimise
export / wastage.”
Unlike a string system, which requires all modules have identical tilts and azimuths, Enphase systems can be designed with PV
modules facing different directions. This enabled Sunworks Solar
Center to angle some of the modules to best offset the morning
power demands, and others to offset the late afternoon demand.
In addition, Enphase’s technology captures power at lower light
levels, meaning it begins producing energy earlier in the day and
continues producing later in the day than a string system.
Quality Means Peace of Mind
With over 400 storage units full of customer’s personal belongings,
safety and reliability was paramount. Fires are a storage facility’s
worst nightmare, but Enphase’s all-AC system means that there is
no high voltage DC wiring needed.
Enlighten’s detailed and pre-emptive monitoring is also an instrumental component in Enphase’s reliability. Being able to see
potential issues as they happen allows Sunworks Solar Centre to
Enphase technology makes it easy to install
INSTALLATION SUMMARY
Client Enterprise Street Self Storage
unique systems that can be custom designed
to best suits customer needs.
Location Caloundra, Queensland
Completion Date October 2014
Installer Sunworks Solar Centre
System Size 17.94kW
Microinverters Enphase M215
Modules REC Solar 260W
About Enphase Energy
Enphase Energy revolutionises solar power generation with
industry-leading technology innovation. Enphase’s proven microinverter technology maximises production of each module, which
works together with advanced communications hardware and an
intelligent software platform to deliver a reliable, high-performance
solar array.
To find how Enphase can help cut your energy bills
and carbon footprint, visit enphase.com/au.
monitor their customers’ systems remotely and determine
whether the issue requires a truck roll or simply software
updates.
“In the past, we’ve mostly used Enphase for residential installations, but after this project, we’re confident that Enphase is a
great fit for commercial sites,” said Trust. “We’re excited to see
how our business grows in the commercial segment using the
Enphase System, and how the market takes to it as well.”