Greenearth Energy gets green light for Melbourne solar technology demonstration site

Greenearth Energy (ASX: GER) has received planning approval from City of Port Philip for its ZenithSolar Z20 High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV)/Combined Heat and Power (CHP) solar technology demonstration site.

The Z20 technology was developed and is manufactured by Israel's ZenithSolar, and is the world's most efficient Combined Heat and Power (CHP) solar technology.

Greenearth's subsidiary Greenearth Solar Energy received the green light for the demonstration facilty at 69 Fennell Street Port Melbourne, the first Z20 demonstration site outside Israel.

Greenearth believes the ZenithSolar Z20 has the potential to efficiently deliver the dual benefits of emissions free power and hot water to a wide range of customers throughout Australia and the wider Pacific region.

Mark Miller, Greenearth Energy's managing director  said, "we are delighted to have received this approval and we look forward to successfully commissioning our Port Melbourne demonstration site later this year.

"We look forward to successfully delivering our Victorian trial and moving to full distribution within Australia and the wider Pacific region.”

With its unique central location, the site will allow potential investors, project developers and offtake customers easy access to the state-of-the art technology.

Eight Z20 units on the site will produce a peak output of 88kW thermal energy (hot water) and 36kW of electrical energy.

The successful operation of the ZenithSolar Z20 CHP solar technology at Kibbutz Yavne in Israel has demonstrated the impressive benefits of the technology which include:

- Combined Heat and Power generation (CHP);
- Industry leading combined efficiency of greater than 75%;
- Dual output (Heat and Power) improves project ROI;
- System design allows for easy upgrades;
- Modular Installations with small footprint; and
- Proven field performance.

In late 2010, Greenearth Solar Energy and ZenithSolar signed a Conditional Distribution Agreement under which a trial of the ZenithSolar Z20 technology will be carried out in Victoria.

A successful trial will result in Greenearth Solar Energy and ZenithSolar establishing an Exclusive Distribution Agreement for the technology across Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and a number of Pacific Island nations.

On August 25 Greenearth received a trade award from Israel's Ministry of Trade and Labour in recognition of the company's outstanding contribution to the forging of international trade links with the country.

The company is bullish that its partnerships with Israeli companies will lead to the commercial application of clean energy technologies in Australia and beyond.

Greenearth Energy's other projects include High Intensity Discharge (HID) energy efficient lighting, Co2 to fuel, and geothermal energy including the Geelong Geothermal Power Project (GGPP).

Originally published at: http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/19258/greenearth-energy-gets-green-light-for-melbourne-solar-technology-demonstration-site-19258.html