When your hotel has a power bill north of $10k per month and your solar system stops working, you are going to notice.

Port Pacific Resort is a Port Macquarie institution. With 79 apartments, pools, air conditioning, hot water systems, and appliances running around the clock, the daily energy consumption is massive. For a property of this scale, generating free energy for self-consumption is not just an environmental choice. It is a critical financial strategy.

So when we were called out for a service check on their existing eight-year-old 100kW solar system, the stakes were high. What we found was a system beyond economic repair. Multiple panels had failed, optimisers had melted on the roof, and broken cable ties left wiring hanging dangerously. Every day that system sat broken, the resort was drawing expensive power from the grid to meet its heavy daytime loads. It was time for a complete replacement

The Logistical Challenge of a High-Rise Upgrade

Replacing a 100kW system on a nine-storey building presents major logistical hurdles. Due to the building's location on a busy street and the load rating of the suspended slab at the rear, a crane was completely out of the question.

This meant our team had to manually remove 330 old panels and bring them down in the guest lifts, then transport 227 new panels, mounting rails, cable trays, and all associated hardware back up the same way. All of this had to be achieved while the resort remained fully operational, minimising the impact on guests.

Once we started removing panels and discovered eight years of accumulated bird poop and nests underneath, we knew we had undercharged for the removal process. No amount of money can sugar-coat hundreds of kilos of bird poop. It’s not scientific but were are pretty sure the the old system failed due to the smell. Luckily, we are not just here for the money. The view nine storeys up looking out over the North Shore helped make up the shortfall, and we immediately ordered rolls of bird mesh to ensure the rooftop did not become a bird hotel again.

Why Edge Protection Changes the Game
Working on the edge of a nine-storey roof with a sheer drop to the pool area below demands an uncompromising approach to safety. Before work commenced, we engaged a health and safety officer from SafeWork NSW to help design a comprehensive safety plan and conduct a thorough toolbox talk with the entire team.

To ensure our crew could work safely and efficiently, we deployed full edge protection around the roof perimeter. At MNC Solar Power, the team treats every heavy lift as an opportunity to build muscle, which is lucky because with no crane possible, we had to muscle all the railing and supports for the edge protection up the stairwell. We slept well that night.

While edge protection is challenging to install, it fundamentally changed how the job was executed. Instead of being encumbered by harnesses and tripping over safety lines, our team could move freely. This allowed our most experienced installers to focus entirely on delivering a high-quality, tidy installation. By keeping the wiring neat and properly secured in trays, we ensured the new system would be reliable, easy to maintain, and free from the faults that plagued the previous setup.

Built for the Coast, Built to Last

The new system was designed using Clenergy's mounting software and Pylon solar software to withstand the tough coastal weather and maximise generation for the resort's heavy daytime loads. We installed 227 Canadian Solar 440W panels paired with two Sungrow 50CX commercial inverters. The entire setup is centrally managed via the iSolarCloud platform, with a Logger 1000 and CT meters providing full visibility over production and consumption.

The Financial Outcome
Port Pacific Resort now benefits from a robust, modern 100kW solar system built to last in a demanding coastal environment. By generating massive amounts of free energy during the day, the resort can directly offset the heavy power demands of its facilities, delivering immediate and significant financial savings.

By utilising edge protection and relying on our dedicated in-house team, we completed the complex installation safely and efficiently. With remote monitoring in place, we can proactively manage the system's performance, ensuring the resort continues to slash its power bills with reliable, clean energy for years to come.

If you manage a commercial property or facility on the Mid North Coast and want to understand the financial case for a high-quality solar upgrade, reach out to the team at MNC Solar Power.