Collaroy Tennis Club has officially switched on its solar power system which is a first among Tennis Northern Beaches member clubs.
The renewable energy project’s major sponsor, Brendan Pomponio of Belle Property Dee Why, graced the ceremony held 7 May 2022. Mr Pomponio said that the company’s motivation to sponsor the project was to contribute something to the club that would provide a recurring benefit.
“In our 100th anniversary year, we have won the Most Outstanding Club of the Year Award and installed LED lights and new poles. The Club has just reached 200 members, an 81% increase in 2 years. We are very proud to announce the “official switching on” of the Solar Panels and Battery facility. We are the first club in NSW to have Solar (with batteries) and we are now totally green,” Collaroy Tennis Club President, Vito Cincinnato said.
Mr Cincinnato said that whilst the club doesn’t use a lot of power during daytime but their old conventional lights do consume a lot of electricity. However, by combining the new solar power system with LED lights, the club’s significantly reduce power consumption and help it reach close to zero carbon emissions.
Collaroy Tennis Club received a $23.5k grant from the ATP Cup Legacy Fund that went to the LED lighting upgrade on all of the club’s six courts. The solar and battery upgrade, on the other hand, involved the installation of 33 rooftop solar panels and batteries for storage of excess power. The renewable energy system is expected to generate an average of 63kwh of electricity per day, more than enough to offset the club’s 51kwh daily power consumption or savings of up to $9,000 on power bills.
The more than $100k project makes Collaroy Tennis Club the first club of Tennis Northern Beaches and the first metropolitan tennis club in the state to be equipped with solar panels on a clubhouse.