Leading off-grid installer, Apex Energy Australia designed and engineered an advanced renewable microgrid for multi-award-winning nature conservation attraction, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Backed by a $1.3 million grant from the Australian government, the renewable microgrid will provide critical energy security to power decades of global science and environmental research at the site, which is slated for UNESCO World Heritage Listing. The Arkaroola microgrid will be powered by four solar arrays, one of which is a 61.6 kilowatt (peak) rooftop solar system on the sanctuary’s Mawson Lodge. In planning and designing the solar system, Apex Energy gave careful consideration to the need for any materials transported to site to be strong and lightweight to protect the aging sub-structure of the building, whilst reliable enough to stand the test of time, as future replacement or maintenance at the remote site would carry a high cost. The selection of S-5!’s rail-less solar mounting solution was the obvious solution, whilst cutting installation costs by 25 percent by eliminating the assembly and installation required by traditional racking. Thank you, @apexenergyaustralia9081 for helping make this project possible! S-5! Products Supplied: • PVKIT® EdgeGrab (240) • PVKIT® MidGrab (180) • RibBracket™ (360) How the Arkaroola Microgrid benefitted from using S-5!: • Rail-less installation using S-5!’s direct-attach solar mounting solution significantly reduced the cost and complexity of transporting materials to such a remote location in Flinders Ranges • Cut installation costs by 25% by eliminating the assembly and installation required by traditional racking • Reduced dead load of mounting components by 750kg, placing less stress on the aging sub-structure • Increased system size by 7.3% by using S-5!, allowing freedom to install panels anywhere on the roof sheet • Completed solar installation approximately 37% faster than a traditional rail-based mounting system