Major Road Projects Victoria and McConnell Dowell partnered to deliver critical road improvements in Melbourne’s southeastern growth corridor, integrating sustainable energy solutions to reduce carbon emissions and operating costs. Decarbonization is a key priority for both McConnell Dowell and the State of Victoria, with large infrastructure projects expected to pave the way toward net-zero emissions through cost-effective, turnkey solutions. However, the project site lacked the necessary space for fixed solar infrastructure or a full-scale rollout of solar arrays, making traditional renewable energy deployments challenging.

To overcome these limitations, the project deployed the Solarator™ Compact 20+ kW, a commercial-grade, solar-powered generator in Narre Warren, Cranbourne. This unit replaced a 30 kVa diesel generator, resulting in over 170,000 pounds of carbon emissions avoided annually. Additionally, the switch to solar power led to fuel cost savings of more than $57,000 per year, along with an additional $20,000 saved annually in diesel servicing expenses. With these significant costs and environmental benefits, the expected payback period for the Compact 20+ kW unit is just two years.