QLD Archives | Smart Ease

Shopping centre solar savings: Woree Plaza’s smart choice

Stefanie D — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 01:33:51 +0000

Woree Plaza, a bustling shopping centre in far north Queensland near Cairns, faced a daunting challenge — skyrocketing energy costs affecting their operations and tenants. To address this, they partnered with Smart Ease and our Channel Partner, Smart Commercial Solar.

Bruce Bennetts, the Plaza’s General Manager, had witnessed the success of a solar installation at his local Bunnings Warehouse, inspiring him to explore a similar solution. After thorough research and the collection of three quotes, Woree Plaza chose Smart Commercial Solar for its cost-effectiveness and comprehensive approach.

Project snapshot

Equipment

100kw Solar System
369 x Trina panels
3 x SMA inverters

The outcome

Smart Commercial Solar designed a 200kW solar system which the Centre decided to fund through a Smart Ease Payment Plan. The system is forecast to offset 24% of the centre’s energy consumption over five years, with the customised Payment Plan ensuring the system cost has no adverse impact on Woree Plaza’s daily operations.

Once fully paid off, the shopping centre solar system will generate free electricity, potentially leading to reduced rent or fees for tenants. Solar isn’t just about cost savings; it’s also a powerful marketing tool for attracting new tenants who appreciate lower operational expenses.

The win

Our partnership with Smart Commercial Solar extends beyond financial solutions. It exemplifies the strength of collaboration within an embedded network. Together, we’ve created a smarter, more sustainable future for Woree Plaza. What sets Smart Ease apart is our tech-enabled platform and fast online applications, allowing businesses like Woree Plaza to swiftly embrace solar. We streamline the process, making it easier than ever to adopt clean energy solutions. At Smart Ease, we’re proud to work alongside Smart Commercial Solar to achieve this remarkable result.

Start a conversation with Smart Ease and find out how our solar commercial finance support enterprise scale solar projects and sustainability goals.

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Payment Plan delivers significant cash-flow benefits to farming business

Stefanie D — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 01:24:40 +0000

Pollock Farm is a family-owned and operated farming business in the Lockyer Valley, Queensland. It produces hay and lucerne chaff, mainly for the horse industry.

“Electricity to irrigate is the biggest expense on the farm at more than $100,00 a year,” says the farm’s owner, Lance Pollock.

With the price of electricity continuing to rise, Pollock Farm wanted to find a way to reduce energy costs. “Our main motivation was to reduce the power bill, update the farm and increase its energy-efficiency,” Lance explains.

Yet a major hurdle getting the project off the ground was upfront capital.

The solution

Instead of having to find money to pay for the project upfront, Pollock far discovered a payment plan solution through Smart Ease.

”With no upfront investment and instant pre-approval, the process from start to finish was completely seamless—and fast! It meant that we could get the project started quickly and start saving straight away,” said Lance.

Project snapshot

Equipment

92kW Solar System
288 x Risen panels
1 x variable speed drives
30kW DC to AC Power converter

Energy savings

60%- 70% reduction on annual energy bills.

Industry

Agriculture

Location

Queensland

We are future-proofing the farm. Financially, it’s a really good economic decision.

“The reality was, we didn’t have the cash flow to install solar and pay upfront. Smart Ease made it simple.”

Solar experts, NDF Group implemented a solar system with an integrated variable speed drive. It resulted in a reduction in energy costs immediately.

“We have seen big benefits after installing our solar irrigation system, reducing our power bill drastically,” adds Lance.

“While the sun’s shining we can irrigate and it doesn’t cost us a cent. It’s been a great experience.”

The win

“One of the main advantages is that we were able to reduce energy costs annualy by 60% to 70%,” says Lance.

“Our payments to Smart Ease are close to the savings we’re making which means the outlay is no more than before. We’re actually saving money! This sets us up to be in a really competitive position,” Lance adds.

“From a cash-flow perspective, this is an obvious benefit for businesses and a huge competitive edge. We’re future proofing the farm. It’s financially a really good economic decision,” Lance explains.

“With a Smart Ease payment plan, there are no extra costs for us now and it puts us in a stronger financial long-term position.”

Smart Ease has been great to deal with. They are so quick and just incredible compared to other funders.

Find out how our payment solutions can help reduce energy costs for organisations

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How a local charity is saving money with solar – and giving it right back

Stefanie D — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 04:10:06 +0000

Every day, Western Downs Outreach Project (WDOP) in Queensland delivers services to improve the lives of those living in poverty in the region. The Project provides counselling, advocacy support, food hampers and a soup kitchen.

Impressively, WDOP is largely self-funded through their Containers for Change refund point in Chinchilla that gives cash to community members who recycle used drink containers. As a full recycling breakdown point, WDOP receives a handling fee from the program.

As such, WDOP is fulfilling a dual purpose of helping those in need and helping the environment.

The challenge

As a not-for-profit focused on growing its support of its local community, WDOP was looking for ways to minimise operational costs.

Project snapshot

Equipment

78 x 370kW Photo Solar T Inverter

1 x Sungrow 28.86kW

Channel Partner

The Saviour Group
Arkana

Industry

Charity

Location

Queensland

One area to target was their rising energy bill, so Project Director, Jason Vella reached out to The Saviour Group to investigate options for the facility.

The answer was to install a solar system that would enable the majority of their electricity to be powered by clean, free solar energy. The only catch – WDOP needed to find a way to pay for the equipment that didn’t eat into the organisation’s much-needed cash reserves.

On a Smart Ease Payment Plan, the solar system will literally be paying for itself within months of installation.

The solution

Through The Saviour Group, WDOP discovered Smart Ease and their Payment Plans. As Jason put it, “we were in a situation where we had to look forward 12 months to make sure finances didn’t fall into a red zone.”

“The funds weren’t immediately available, so without a Payment Plan it would have meant using our Reserve Fund – and we didn’t want to dive into that unnecessarily.”

WDOP rely on their Reserve Fund to be able to respond quickly to community need. If a situation such as a COVID lockdown were to arise, the Reserve Fund enables the organisation to fill the financial gap and deliver additional vital services.

A Smart Ease Payment Plan over five years was a perfect solution to mitigate the risk of cash flow issues and to keep the Reserve Fund intact.

After discussing their Payment Plan options with the Smart Ease team, Jason was impressed with the fast and painless process that happened entirely online. Unlike with banks, the Payment Plan application was completed and approved in only minutes.

As Jason puts it, “everything from both The Saviour Group and Smart Ease was very easy. No dramas whatsoever, no delays, no hiccups anywhere along the way. Everything went absolutely smoothly.”

On a Smart Ease payment plan, the solar system will literally be paying for itself within months of installation.

The outcome

Western Downs Outreach Project is thrilled to say goodbye to significant energy bills and welcome a new solar system that will be a cash-positive proposition. On a Smart Ease Payment Plan, the solar system will literally be paying for itself within months of installation.

Jason added, “Looking at it over the five years, we’re not going to be paying an excessive amount over what we would have been paying in electricity anyway. After the five years, we’ve got another 20 odd years of free energy from the sun!”

Smart Ease and The Saviour Group have been honoured to play just one part in helping Western Downs Outreach Project obtain what’s best for their non-profit.

Proudly, using the Payment Plan model to cover the cost of their solar equipment, WDOP have been able to conserve vital funds that can now be used to deliver services and food to the community.

They have also significantly reduced carbon emissions by powering operations almost entirely by the sun. As such they are living up to their environmental ethos and fulfilling their sustainability goal.

Everything…was very easy. No dramas whatsoever, no delays, no hiccups anywhere along the way. Everything went absolutely smoothly.

Start a conversation with Smart Ease and find out how our solar commercial finance support solar projects and sustainability goals.

The post How a local charity is saving money with solar – and giving it right back appeared first on Smart Ease.

Tropical sunsets and iconic ice cold beer, thanks to Smart Ease

Stefanie D — Sun, 22 May 2022 01:20:49 +0000

Nestled deep in the Gulf of Carpentaria, 750 kilometres west of Cairns in tropical Far North Queensland, lies the Sunset Tavern, Karumba. As popular with the locals as it is with backpackers and Australian tourists, the Tavern is famous for its seafood, sunsets views, and ice cold beer.

Not surprisingly, keeping all that beer ice cold requires some serious refrigeration.

“Our energy bills were routinely in the vicinity of $80,000,” explains Sunset Tavern General Manager, Ben Malady. “The prospect of a solar installation that would enable us to both reduce our environmental impact and cut costs, was really exciting.”

But the impact of COVID lockdowns and travel restrictions on Queensland’s tourism industry, as 2020 unfolded, was immense. So while installing a solar system made perfect sense to Ben, the upfront cost of supply and installation meant the project simply wasn’t feasible without a commercial finance option.

Not to mention the need to design a solar panel configuration that didn’t impede the bird’s-eye view of the Tavern’s iconic ‘ICE COLD BEER’ roof signage, which presented a unique technical challenge for installer, Green Energy Technologies.

Savings to the Tavern since installation was completed in September 2020, have already amounted to a remarkable $50,000.

Project snapshot

Equipment

39.96 kilowatt system
111 x 360kW  SolarEdge panels
2 x  15kW SolarEdge inverters 
The system will produce 61,261 kilowatt hours of electricity each year.

Energy bill savings in first year: $50k

Payment plan term: 2 years

The project was cash flow positive from day one. 

Channel partner:

Green Energy Technologies

Industry:

Hospitality & Tourism

Location:

Queensland

It’s enabled a business like ours, that was experiencing a huge amount of uncertainty with regards to cash flow, to afford a significant investment in solar in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

The solution

“Discovering Smart Ease was the ‘lightbulb moment’ we needed,” Ben explains, describing how the Tavern’s existing relationship with Green Energy Technologies lead to his introduction to Smart Ease and their accessible payment plans.

“It’s enabled a business like ours that, like so many others around the country, was experiencing a huge amount of uncertainty with regards to cash flow, to afford a significant investment in solar in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Our Smart Ease payment plan has allowed us to simultaneously reduce our overheads and massively impact the Tavern’s sustainability efforts.”

The win

Because the ideal number of roof panels was installed, virtually 100% of the energy generated by the system is being used on site. Plus thanks to their impeccable arrangement, the ‘COLD BEER’ roof signage was preserved! “The application and approval process, especially in the midst of the pandemic with the big banks cracking down on lending, was fast and easy,” Ben says.

“But the greatest win has been financial. The project was cash-flow positive from day one. We’re extremely happy.”

And so finally, after a challenging year for all, once the project was complete the Tavern and Green Energy Technologies teams were very content to share an ice cold beer together over the setting tropical sun.

Find out how a Smart Ease payment solution can support your business and sustainability goals

The post Tropical sunsets and iconic ice cold beer, thanks to Smart Ease appeared first on Smart Ease.

Caravan park upgrades security the smart way

Stefanie D — Mon, 02 May 2022 23:52:37 +0000

“Our security system needed updating and a Smart Ease payment plan meant that we avoided the large upfront lump sum, paying for it in manageable smaller chunks over time.  The whole process was simpler than we thought with approval happening on the spot and the security equipment installed soon after.”

Owner, Bush Oasis Caravan Park

Project snapshot

Equipment

4 Nyx Security Cameras

Organisation

Bush Oasis Caravan Park

Industry

Tourism

Location

Queensland

Find out how our payment solutions support solar projects and sustainability goals – for all business types

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