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 The 20 largest Geothermal power plants in the world

 Sustainable Energy 

 Geothermal 

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Introduction Largest Geothermal Power Plants: What is Geothermal power plants

Geothermal power plants are facilities that generate electricity using heat from the Earth’s geothermal energy. The Earth’s internal heat is a natural source of energy that can be harnessed to generate electricity through a process called geothermal power generation.

As a renewable energy,  Geothermal power plants use the natural heat from the Earth’s interior to produce steam, which drives a turbine that generates electricity. The process involves drilling a well into the Earth’s crust to access hot water and steam from underground reservoirs. The steam is then used to drive turbines that generate electricity, which is distributed to the power grid for use by consumers.

Geothermal power plants are a form of renewable energy, as they do not rely on fossil fuels and produce very little greenhouse gas emissions. They are also a relatively stable source of electricity, as the heat from the Earth’s interior is a constant and reliable source of energy. 

While geothermal power generation is currently less common than other forms of renewable energy such as wind or solar power, it has the potential to play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a more sustainable energy system.

Benefit of Geothermal power plants

Geothermal power plants offer several benefits for renewable energy diversity.

One of the main advantages of geothermal power is that it provides a consistent and reliable source of electricity, unlike other forms of renewable energy such as wind and solar power which are intermittent and dependent on weather conditions. 

This means that geothermal power plants can provide a stable source of energy to complement other forms of renewable energy, helping to balance out the variability of other renewable sources in the energy mix.

Another benefit of geothermal power plants is that they can be located close to the areas where the electricity is needed, reducing the need for long-distance transmission lines. This can help to improve energy efficiency and reduce transmission losses, which can result in lower electricity costs for consumers.

Geothermal power plants also have a relatively low environmental impact compared to other forms of electricity generation. They produce very little greenhouse gas emissions and require a relatively small amount of land area compared to other forms of renewable energy. Additionally, the technology used in geothermal power plants is well-established and proven, meaning that there are few technological or operational risks associated with this form of energy generation.

Gothermal power plants offer a reliable, low-impact, and complementary source of renewable energy that can help to diversify the energy mix and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

20 largest Geothermal power plants in the world

Geothermal power plants are a form of renewable energy that harnesses heat from the Earth’s core to generate electricity. With the increasing demand for clean and sustainable energy, geothermal power plants have become a popular option for countries around the world. In this article, we will be providing a summary of the 20 largest geothermal power plants in the world and their location.

Rank Name of Power Plant Country Capacity (MW) Commissioned
1 Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station Mexico 820 1973
2 Geysers Geothermal Complex United States 720 1960-1989
3 Larderello Geothermal Power Plant Italy 773 1913
4 CalEnergy Generation – Salton Sea United States 346 1987
5 Malitbog Geothermal Power Station Philippines 232.5 2006
6 Hellisheiði Power Station Iceland 303 2010
7 Wayang Windu Geothermal Power Station Indonesia 227 2000
8 Nesjavellir Power Station Iceland 120 1990
9 Kawerau Geothermal Power Station New Zealand 100 1958
10 Kamojang Geothermal Power Station Indonesia 200 1982
11 Darajat Geothermal Power Station Indonesia 255 1994
12 Salak Geothermal Power Station Indonesia 377 1994
13 Tiwi Geothermal Power Station Philippines 330 1997
14 Makban Geothermal Power Station Philippines 458 1979
15 Reykjanes Power Station Iceland 100 1977
16 Olkaria Geothermal Power Station Kenya 280 1981
17 Ngatamariki Power Station New Zealand 82 2013
18 Ohaaki Power Station New Zealand 109 1989
19 Wairakei Geothermal Power Station New Zealand 162 1958
20 Kizildere Geothermal Power Plant Turkey 80 1984

Here is Some explanation for 20 Largest Geothermal Power Plant in The World

Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station Overview

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Cerro Prieto Geothermal power plant- Mexico

The Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station is a geothermal power plant located in the northern region of Baja California, Mexico. It is one of the oldest and largest geothermal power plants in the world.

In the 1950s, the Mexican government began exploring the possibility of using geothermal energy as a source of electricity. In 1958, the Mexican government signed an agreement with the United States government to conduct joint research on geothermal energy in the region.

In 1960, a team of geologists and engineers began drilling exploratory wells in the Cerro Prieto region. The first geothermal well was drilled in 1964, and by 1973, the first 50 megawatt turbine generator was installed and producing electricity.

Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station Located in Baja California, Mexico, the Cerro Prieto geothermal power plant has an installed capacity of 820 MW. It has been operating since 1973 and generates about 4% of Mexico’s electricity.

The Geysers Geothermal power plant

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: The Geysers Geothermal power plant- California, United States

The Geysers is the largest geothermal power plant in the world, located in California, United States. It has a total installed capacity of 1,517 MW and generates around 5% of California’s electricity.

Larderello Geothermal power plant

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Larderello Geothermal power plant- Italy

Larderello is the oldest geothermal power plant in the world, located in Tuscany, Italy. It has an installed capacity of 769 MW and has been in operation since 1913.

CalEnergy Generation Geothermal Power Plant

Largest Geothermal Power Plants:  CalEnergy Generation Geothermal Power Plant – California

CalEnergy Generation is a geothermal power plant located near the Salton Sea in southern California. The Salton Sea is a large, shallow saltwater lake that was accidentally created in 1905 when an irrigation canal burst and flooded the Salton Sink.

The development of geothermal power at the Salton Sea began in the 1970s, when the US Department of Energy funded a research project to explore the potential for geothermal power generation in the region. CalEnergy Generation was established in 1984 as a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and it began operating the first geothermal power plant at the Salton Sea in 1987.

The CalEnergy Generation geothermal power plant uses a process called binary cycle power generation to produce electricity. In this process, hot geothermal fluid is used to vaporize a low boiling-point fluid, which then drives a turbine to generate electricity. The cooled geothermal fluid is then injected back into the ground to maintain the geothermal resource.

Malitbog Geothermal power plant- Philippines

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Malitbog Geothermal power plant- Philippines

Malitbog Geothermal Power Plant is a geothermal power plant located in Barangay Tongonan, Kananga, Leyte, Philippines. It is operated by the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the largest geothermal energy producer in the country. The power plant was commissioned in 1996 and has an installed capacity of 232.5 MW, making it one of the largest geothermal power plants in the Philippines.

The Malitbog Geothermal Power Plant uses steam produced by the natural heat of the earth to generate electricity. The plant has four units, each with a capacity of 58.125 MW. The steam is extracted from deep underground through production wells and is then used to drive turbines that generate electricity

The Malitbog geothermal power plant is located in Leyte, Philippines and has an installed capacity of 232 MW. It is operated by the Energy Development Corporation and supplies around 5% of the country’s electricity.

Hellisheidi Geothermal power plant- Iceland, Overview

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Hellisheidi Geothermal power plant- Iceland

Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant is a geothermal power station located in southwest Iceland, approximately 30 kilometers east of the capital city Reykjavik. It is the largest geothermal power station in the world, with a capacity of 303 megawatts of electricity and 133 megawatts of thermal energy.

The power plant uses a combination of geothermal wells and steam turbines to generate electricity. It is situated on a volcanic field that is rich in geothermal energy, which is harnessed by drilling wells into the ground to extract hot water and steam. The steam is then used to power the turbines, which generate electricity. The hot water is also used to heat homes and buildings in Reykjavik through a district heating system.

In addition to producing electricity and heating, the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant is also used for research and development into geothermal energy. It is operated by the Icelandic utility company Reykjavik Energy, which is responsible for providing electricity and heating to the Reykjavik area.

Hellisheidi is Iceland’s largest geothermal power plant with an installed capacity of 303 MW. It is located near the country’s capital, Reykjavik and supplies around 8% of the country’s electricity.

Wayang Windu Geothermal power plant- Indonesia, overview

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Wayang Windu Geothermal power plant- Indonesia

The power plant has a total installed capacity of 227 MW and utilizes the geothermal energy from the Wayang Windu geothermal field, which is located in the Bandung Regency. The field has an estimated potential of 600 MW of geothermal energy.

The Wayang Windu geothermal power plant consists of two power stations, the Wayang Windu I and II. Wayang Windu I has an installed capacity of 110 MW and started operation in 1999, while Wayang Windu II has an installed capacity of 117 MW and started operation in 2009.

Located in West Java, Indonesia, Wayang Windu is the country’s largest geothermal power plant with an installed capacity of 227 MW. It is operated by PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy and provides electricity to the Java-Bali grid.

Nesjavellir Geothermal power plant- Iceland

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Nesjavellir Geothermal power plant- Iceland

Nesjavellir Geothermal power plant  is Iceland’s third-largest geothermal power plant with an installed capacity of 120 MW. It is located near the country’s capital, Reykjavik and supplies around 2% of the country’s electricity.

Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant is a geothermal power station located in Iceland, about 30 kilometers east of Reykjavik. It is one of the largest geothermal power plants in Iceland and generates approximately 120 MW of electricity and 1,100 liters of hot water per second.

The power plant utilizes the high-temperature geothermal reservoirs of the Hengill volcanic system, which is located beneath the Nesjavellir area. The reservoirs consist of superheated water and steam that are extracted from wells drilled into the ground. The steam is then used to power turbines, which generate electricity, while the hot water is used for heating and other purposes.

One of the unique features of the Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant is that it is not only used for generating electricity, but also for supplying hot water to the nearby capital city of Reykjavik. The hot water is transported through a network of pipelines to homes and buildings in the city, providing heating and hot water for the residents.

Kawerau Geothermal power plant

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Kawerau Geothermal power plant- New Zealand

Kawerau is New Zealand’s second-largest geothermal power plant with an installed capacity of 100 MW. It is located in the Bay of Plenty region and is operated by Norske Skog Tasman.

The Kawerau Geothermal power plant is located in Kawerau, New Zealand, and is a geothermal power plant that generates electricity using the natural heat of the Earth. The plant is owned and operated by Contact Energy, one of New Zealand’s largest electricity generators and retailers.

The Kawerau Geothermal power plant began operations in 1958 and has been expanded and upgraded several times since then. It currently has a capacity of 100 megawatts (MW) and is capable of supplying electricity to around 100,000 homes.

The power plant draws its energy from a geothermal field located beneath the Kawerau township. The geothermal field contains a high temperature and high-pressure reservoir of hot water and steam that is used to drive turbines and generate electricity. The geothermal energy is a renewable source of energy and produces no greenhouse gas emissions.

Kamojang Geothermal Power Station

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Kamojang Geothermal Power Station

The Kamojang Geothermal Power Station is a geothermal power plant located in the Garut Regency, West Java, Indonesia. It was the first geothermal power plant to be built in Indonesia and one of the first in the world.

The power station was built in 1982 and has a total installed capacity of 235 MW. It utilizes geothermal fluid from the nearby Kamojang geothermal field to generate electricity using a binary cycle power plant. The plant consists of ten units, each with a capacity of 10-60 MW.

The Kamojang Geothermal Power Station is one of several geothermal power plants in Indonesia, which has some of the largest geothermal resources in the world. Geothermal energy is a significant contributor to Indonesia’s electricity generation capacity, accounting for approximately 5% of the country’s total electricity generation.

In addition to its economic benefits, the Kamojang Geothermal Power Station has also been recognized for its environmental benefits. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that does not emit greenhouse gases or other harmful pollutants associated with traditional fossil fuel power generation. The use of geothermal energy has helped Indonesia to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

Darajat Geothermal Power Station

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Darajat Geothermal Power Station

The Darajat Geothermal Power Station is a geothermal power plant located in the Garut Regency, West Java, Indonesia. It is owned and operated by PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy, a subsidiary of the Indonesian state-owned oil and gas company, Pertamina.

The power station was built in 1994 and has a total installed capacity of 270 MW. It utilizes geothermal fluid from the nearby Darajat geothermal field to generate electricity using a binary cycle power plant. The plant consists of nine units, each with a capacity of 30 MW.

The Darajat Geothermal Power Station is one of several geothermal power plants in Indonesia, which has some of the largest geothermal resources in the world. Geothermal energy is a significant contributor to Indonesia’s electricity generation capacity, accounting for approximately 5% of the country’s total electricity generation.

Salak Geothermal power plant

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Salak Geothermal power plant- Indonesia

Located in West Java, Indonesia, the Salak geothermal power plant has an installed capacity of 377 MW. It is operated by PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy and provides electricity to the Java-Bali grid.

The Salak Geothermal Power Plant is a geothermal power plant located in West Java, Indonesia. It is owned and operated by PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy, a subsidiary of the state-owned oil and gas company, Pertamina.

The Salak Geothermal Power Plant was built in the 1990s, and it began commercial operation in 1994. The plant has a total installed capacity of 377 MW, making it one of the largest geothermal power plants in the world.

The Salak geothermal field is located in the area surrounding Mount Salak, and it is one of the largest geothermal fields in Indonesia, with estimated reserves of over 1 GW. The field is characterized by high temperatures and pressures, and it contains both liquid and vapor-dominated reservoirs.

The Salak Geothermal Power Plant is an important contributor to Indonesia’s energy mix, providing a significant amount of electricity to the Java-Bali power grid. In addition to its commercial operation, the plant is also involved in research and development activities related to geothermal energy, including exploration, drilling, and reservoir management.

Tiwi-MakBan Geothermal power plant- Philippines, overview

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Tiwi-MakBan Geothermal power plant- Philippines

The Tiwi-MakBan geothermal power plant is located in the Philippines and has a total installed capacity of 691 MW. It is operated by the Energy Development Corporation and generates around 16% of the country’s electricity.

The Tiwi-MakBan geothermal power plant is located in the Philippines and is one of the largest geothermal power plants in the world. The plant is operated by the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) and generates electricity from the natural steam produced by the geothermal reservoirs in the area.

The Tiwi-MakBan geothermal power plant consists of two separate facilities: the Tiwi geothermal power plant located in the town of Tiwi in the province of Albay, and the MakBan geothermal power plant located in the town of Bay in the province of Laguna. The Tiwi plant has a capacity of 330 megawatts (MW), while the MakBan plant has a capacity of 1,100 MW, making the total capacity of the Tiwi-MakBan complex 1,430 MW.

The Tiwi-MakBan geothermal power plant was first developed in the 1970s by the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), and was later privatized in 2007 when EDC acquired the facilities. The plant plays a significant role in the energy mix of the Philippines, as it provides clean and renewable energy to the Luzon grid, which serves the country’s most populated island.

Reykjanes Geothermal power plant- Iceland, overview

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Reykjanes Geothermal power plant- Iceland

Reykjanes is Iceland’s second-largest geothermal power plant with an installed capacity of 100 MW. It is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula and supplies around 3% of the country’s electricity.

Reykjanes Geothermal Power Plant is a geothermal power plant located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland. It is owned and operated by the national power company, Landsvirkjun, and is one of the largest geothermal power plants in Iceland.

The plant began operation in 2006 and has a total capacity of 100 MW, which is generated by five individual units. The plant uses the energy from the high-temperature geothermal reservoirs found beneath the surface of the Reykjanes Peninsula to generate electricity.

In addition to producing electricity, the Reykjanes Geothermal Power Plant also provides hot water for space heating in the nearby towns of Reykjavik and Keflavik. The plant also has a visitor center where visitors can learn about geothermal energy and the technology used to harness it.

Olkaria Geothermal Power Station

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Olkaria Geothermal Power Station

Olkaria Geothermal Power Station is a geothermal power plant located in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya, Africa. It is one of the largest geothermal power stations in Africa and the world, with a total installed capacity of 720 MW as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021.

The Olkaria Geothermal Power Station is located in the Olkaria geothermal field, which is situated within Hell’s Gate National Park. The power station is operated by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), which is the leading electric power generation company in Kenya.

The Olkaria Geothermal Power Station consists of several plants, including Olkaria I, II, III, and IV. Olkaria I has an installed capacity of 45 MW, Olkaria II has an installed capacity of 105 MW, Olkaria III has an installed capacity of 140 MW, and Olkaria IV has an installed capacity of 280 MW.

The power station is a significant contributor to Kenya’s electricity generation capacity, accounting for over 50% of the country’s total installed capacity. The Olkaria Geothermal Power Station has helped to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and has played a critical role in supporting economic growth and development in Kenya.

Ngatamariki Geothermal power plant New Zealand

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Ngatamariki Geothermal power plant- New Zealand

Ngatamariki is located in the North Island of New Zealand and has an installed capacity of 82 MW. It is operated by Contact Energy and supplies around 2% of the country’s electricity.

The Ngatamariki Geothermal Power Plant is a geothermal power station located in the Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand. It is situated approximately 17 kilometers northeast of Taupo, near the town of Reporoa. The power plant is owned and operated by Contact Energy, one of New Zealand’s largest energy companies.

The Ngatamariki power plant uses a binary cycle process to generate electricity. Hot water from the geothermal reservoir is pumped to the surface and passed through a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger transfers the heat from the geothermal fluid to a secondary working fluid with a lower boiling point, such as isobutane or pentane. The working fluid vaporizes, drives a turbine, and generates electricity. After passing through the turbine, the vapor is cooled and condensed back into a liquid form and returned to the heat exchanger to repeat the cycle.

Ohaaki Geothermal power plant- New Zealand

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Ohaaki Geothermal power plant- New Zealand

Ohaaki is New Zealand’s third-largest geothermal power plant with an installed capacity of 84 MW. It is located in the North Island and is operated by Contact Energy.

The Ohaaki Geothermal Power Station is a geothermal power plant located in New Zealand, on the North Island near the town of Wairakei. The plant is owned and operated by Contact Energy, which is New Zealand’s largest electricity generator and retailer.

The power station was first commissioned in 1989 and has a total installed capacity of 104 MW, making it one of the largest geothermal power plants in New Zealand. The plant uses a combination of binary and flash steam technologies to generate electricity from the natural geothermal resources found in the area.

The Ohaaki power station draws steam from a geothermal field known as the Ngatamariki field, which is located about 15 km from the power plant. The steam is brought to the surface through production wells and is separated into steam and water in a series of separators. The steam is then used to drive turbines, which in turn generate electricity, while the separated water is re-injected back into the geothermal reservoir.

Wairakei Geothermal Power Station, New Zealand

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Wairakei Geothermal Power Station, New Zealand

The Wairakei Geothermal Power Station is a geothermal power plant located in the town of Taupo, in the North Island of New Zealand. It was the first geothermal power station to be built in New Zealand and one of the first in the world.

The power station was built in 1958 and has a total installed capacity of 162 MW. It utilizes geothermal fluid from the nearby Wairakei geothermal field to generate electricity using a binary cycle power plant. The plant consists of six units, each with a capacity of 22-29 MW.

The Wairakei Geothermal Power Station was originally built to provide electricity to the town of Taupo and its surrounding areas. However, it quickly became a major contributor to New Zealand’s electricity generation capacity and remains an important source of renewable energy in the country today.

Kizildere Geothermal Power Plant

Largest Geothermal Power Plants: Kizildere Geothermal Power Plant

Kizildere Geothermal Power Plant is a geothermal power plant located in the Kizildere geothermal field, which is situated in the Denizli Province of Turkey. It is one of the largest geothermal power plants in Turkey and the world, with a total installed capacity of 185 MW as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021.

The power plant is operated by Zorlu Energy, which is a subsidiary of the Zorlu Group, a Turkish conglomerate that operates in various sectors including energy, textiles, and electronics. The Kizildere Geothermal Power Plant began operation in 2013 and consists of four units, each with a capacity of 45-50 MW.

The Kizildere geothermal field is estimated to have a potential capacity of 1,000 MW, making it one of the largest geothermal resources in Turkey. The field has been used for geothermal energy production since the 1970s, and the Kizildere Geothermal Power Plant is the largest facility to be built in the area to date.

The utilization of  Largest Geothermal Power Plants

The utilization of geothermal energy has been increasing around the world in recent years. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that is produced by harnessing the Earth’s internal heat. It is a clean and sustainable energy source that does not produce greenhouse gas emissions or other pollutants associated with fossil fuel combustion.

Many countries have invested in geothermal energy as a way to diversify their energy mix and reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. According to the International Geothermal Association, as of 2020, there were approximately 14,900 MW of installed geothermal capacity worldwide, with an additional 3,600 MW under development.

The largest producers of geothermal energy are the United States, Indonesia, and the Philippines. In the United States, the Geysers Geothermal Complex in California is the largest geothermal power plant in the world with a capacity of 720 MW. In Indonesia, the country’s geothermal potential is estimated at over 29,000 MW, and the government has set a target of achieving 7,200 MW of installed geothermal capacity by 2025. The Philippines has over 1,900 MW of installed geothermal capacity, making it the second-largest producer of geothermal energy in the world.

Other countries that are investing in geothermal energy include Kenya, Iceland, Turkey, New Zealand, Italy, and Mexico. These countries are all working to expand their geothermal capacity and develop new technologies to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of geothermal power generation.

The increasing utilization of geothermal energy around the world is a positive development for renewable energy and the fight against climate change. With its clean and sustainable characteristics, geothermal energy has the potential to play a significant role in the transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon energy system.

Conclusion of 20 largest Geothermal power plants in the world

Geothermal power plants are an important source of renewable energy and are being used by countries around the world to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. 

The 20 largest geothermal power plants in the world provide a significant amount of electricity to their respective countries and demonstrate the potential of this clean energy source.

Geothermal energy has the potential to provide a reliable and sustainable source of electricity. Unlike solar and wind power, which are dependent on weather conditions, geothermal power plants can operate 24/7, providing a constant source of energy. Additionally, geothermal energy is a clean source of energy, producing little to no greenhouse gas emissions or other pollutants.

As the world continues to transition towards renewable energy, geothermal power is likely to play an increasingly important role. However, the development of geothermal power plants can be expensive, and they require a specific set of geological conditions to be viable. Nonetheless, as technology advances and more countries invest in renewable energy, the potential for geothermal power is likely to grow.

It is worth noting that geothermal power plants can also have significant impacts on local ecosystems and communities. The construction of the plants can disrupt natural habitats and cause displacement of indigenous populations. Additionally, the extraction of geothermal fluids can have an impact on local water resources.

The 20 largest geothermal power plants in the world demonstrate the potential of geothermal energy as a reliable and sustainable source of electricity. However, careful consideration must be given to the environmental and social impacts of these plants, and efforts should be made to minimize these impacts while maximizing the benefits of this renewable energy source.

https://www.exaputra.com/2023/04/the-20-largest-geothermal-power-plants.html

Renewable Energy

How Is U.S. Insanity Affecting Tourism?

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It’s probably a bit too soon to have useable statistics on this subject, but it’s certainly not too early to apply some common sense.

There are at two factors at play here:

1) America is broadly regarded as a rogue country.  Do you want to visit North Korea? Do Canadians want to spend money in a country that wants to annex them?

2) America is now understood to be unsafe.  Do you want to visit Palestine? Ukraine? Iran?

How Is U.S. Insanity Affecting Tourism?

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Renewable Energy

Commercial Solar Solutions: Real Case Studies by Cyanergy

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Instead of reacting to the next power bill shock, many Australian businesses are starting to think forward.

Every day, more and more Australian companies are asking a simple question we all seek an answer to: How can we reduce energy costs without compromising performance?

Well, for many, the answer lies in commercial solar power, and Cyanergy is one of the Australian companies helping businesses take that step with confidence.

With hands-on experience delivering commercial solar solutions across a wide range of industries, from farms and sporting clubs to breweries and large manufacturing facilities, Cyanergy’s real-world projects demonstrate how tailored solar systems can transform energy usage and significantly reduce operating expenses.

In this blog, we’ll explore what commercial solar power is, why it matters today, and how Cyanergy’s real-world case studies illuminate the path to a cleaner, more profitable energy future, both financially and environmentally

Let’s get into it!

What Are Commercial Solar Solutions? |Why does this matter?

Solar solutions for commercial applications are photovoltaic (PV) systems designed to meet the energy needs of businesses, large facilities, and organizations. This system often consumes much more power than residential households.

Commercial solar systems typically include:

  • Solar PV panels that capture sunlight and convert it to electricity
  • Inverters and electrical integration are used to convert DC to usable AC power
  • Monitoring and performance systems are installed to track energy generation
  • Optional battery storage to support energy autonomy and peak demand management

Unlike residential solar, commercial systems are scaled to handle larger loads and are often optimized for financial return, corporate sustainability goals, and energy independence.

Why Australian Businesses Are Turning to Solar Now?

Throughout the world, many companies are adopting solar power for several compelling reasons. It is already proven
that solar can:

  1. Reduce Operational Costs
  2. Electricity prices are volatile and often increasing worldwide. Incorporating a solar panel helps businesses lock
    in
    energy cost savings by
    producing electricity on-site rather than relying exclusively on grid power.

  3. Strong Financial Returns
  4. Commercial solar systems can pay back their investment in just a few years, far shorter than the 25 to 30 years
    the
    panels last. This ultimately means, after that, you are left with decades of essentially free electricity.

  5. Sustainability and Brand Value
  6. Customers, employees, and stakeholders increasingly value organizations that visibly commit to environmental
    responsibility.

  7. Energy Security
  8. Generating power locally reduces reliance on external sources and grid outages, a huge advantage for businesses
    with
    continuous operations.

    This mix of economic, environmental, and operational benefits makes commercial solar a smart choice for
    forward-looking organizations and commercial
    property
    owners
    .

4 Proven Solutions Through Real Case Studies by Cyanergy

To understand how these benefits play out in real situations, let’s dive into several commercial solar projects executed by Cyanergy. These case studies show diverse applications of solar power and tangible outcomes for different kinds of businesses.

1. Kew Golf Club (VIC): Sporting Facility Goes Solar

At a local golf club that relied on consistent electricity for lighting, clubhouse operations, and course facilities, Cyanergy installed an 88 kW commercial solar system to reduce costs.

Key Results

  • Payback period: around 63 months (5 years)
  • Annual savings: $26,165, a 50% drop in electricity costs
  • Energy generated per year: 141 MWh

This project demonstrates that not only industrial property but also community-oriented facilities can benefit greatly from solar power.

Beyond cost savings, the golf club also reinforced its commitment to sustainability, attracting eco-conscious members and reducing its carbon footprint.

Why This Matters?

Solar is not limited to manufacturing or heavy industry. In Australia, many Sports clubs, community centres, and similar facilities often have high energy use during peak daylight hours, which can be supported by solar.

2. Sparacino Farms: Where Agriculture Meets Solar Innovation!

Whether for irrigation, cooling, processing, or storage, agricultural operations have faced rising energy costs for a long time.

Similarly, Sparacino Farm was suffering from high electricity costs. For this family-run farm, Cyanergy implemented a 99.76 kW solar system that revolutionised their energy expenses.

Project Highlights

  • Electricity cost dropped: from $48,000 to $12,000 per year
  • Monthly savings: roughly $3,000
  • Payback period: 30 months (2.5 years)
  • Annual clean energy production: 87 MWh

This dramatic turnaround showcases how rural and agricultural businesses can achieve some of the fastest returns on solar investments.

In environments where a roof, sunlight, or a shed space is available, solar becomes both a strategic and practical choice.

The Sparacino farms example proves that solar isn’t just an environmental sustainability, it’s a core business decision that can significantly improve margins.

3. Philter Brewing: Crafting Sustainability

Sustainability often aligns naturally with brand identity, and for Philter Brewing, this was a perfect match.

With the help of Cyanergy, the brand installed an 86 kW system to slash power costs and support green operations.

Project Impact

  • Annual energy generated: 99 MWh
  • Annual savings: $29,130, cutting electricity costs from $81,900 to $52,770
  • Payback period: 45 months (3.75 years)

The brewery not only reduced operating expenses but also strengthened its reputation as an environmentally conscious brand, a powerful differentiator in a competitive market.

4. Uniplas Mouldings International: Heavy Industry Solar Success

In one of Cyanergy’s most impactful case studies, a large industrial manufacturer significantly transformed its energy profile with solar. And that’s Uniplas Mouldings International!

Project Features

  • Total installed solar: 490 kW, executed in staged phases
  • Timeline: Stage 1 (200 kW) completed in just 4 weeks
  • Subsidy optimisation: Accessed three sets of government incentives
  • Payback period: as short as 37 months
  • Annual generation: 752 MWh
  • Energy cost savings: Lowered from $647,000 to $456,000 per year

Big industrial energy users can unlock dramatic operational savings with solar, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars a year while achieving rapid ROI that justifies investment sooner, without delay.

Beyond Case Studies: Cyanergy’s Approach to Commercial Solar

Across all these projects, Cyanergy’s methodology shares some common themes that contribute to success:

1. Customized System Design

We all know that no two energy profiles are identical, whether it’s a golf club or a manufacturing plant.

At Cyanergy, we design systems tailored to the business’s actual energy usage, site orientation, and financial goals. So you don’t have to worry about adding a solar solution.

2. Financial Optimization

From government incentives to financial investment planning, Cyanergy helps businesses structure their solar projects to reduce upfront costs and improve payback timelines.

3. End-to-End After-Sale Support

Proper solar implementation requires more than panels; it requires site assessment, design, installation coordination, monitoring, and performance guarantee.

At Cyanergy, we support clients at every step, from early energy audits to post-installation support.

4. Monitoring and Reporting

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Inside ATT and SSE’s Faskally Safety Leadership Centre

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Inside ATT and SSE’s Faskally Safety Leadership Centre

Allen visits the Faskally Safety Leadership Centre with Mark Patterson, Director of Safety, Health, and Environment at SSE, and Dermot Kerrigan, Director and Co-Founder of Active Training Team. They discuss how SSE has put over 9,000 employees and 2,000 contract partners through ATT’s innovative training program, which uses actors and realistic scenarios to create lasting behavioral change across the entire workforce chain, from executives to technicians. Reach out to SSE and ATT to learn more!

Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us!

Welcome to Uptime Spotlight, shining Light on Wind. Energy’s brightest innovators. This is the Progress Powering tomorrow.

Allen Hall: Mark and Turnt. Welcome to the show. Thank you.

Mark Patterson: Thank you.

Allen Hall: We’re in Scotland, present Scotland and per Scotland, which is a place most people probably haven’t ventured to in the United States, but it is quite lovely, although chilly and rainy. It’s Scotland. We’re in December. Uh, and we’re here to take a look at the SSE Training Center.

And the remarkable things that active training team is doing here, because we had seen this in Boston in a smaller format, uh, about a year ago almost now.

Dermot Kerrigan: Just Yeah,

Allen Hall: yeah. Six months

Dermot Kerrigan: ago.

Allen Hall: Yeah. Yeah. It hasn’t been that long ago. Uh, but IC was on me to say, you gotta come over. You gotta come over. You gotta see the, the whole, uh, environment where we put you into the police room and some of the things we wanna talk about, uh, because it, [00:01:00] it does play different.

And you’re right, it does play different. It is very impactful. And it, and maybe we should start off first of Mark, you’re the head of basically health and safety and environment for SSE here in Perth. This is a remarkable facility. It is unlike anything I have seen in the States by far. And SSE has made the commitment to do this sort of training for.

Everybody in your employment and outside of your employment, even contractors.

Mark Patterson: We have been looking at some quite basic things in safety as everybody does. And there’s a fundamental thing we want to do is get everybody home safe. And uh, it’s easier said than done because you’ve gotta get it right for every single task, every single day.

And that’s a massive challenge. And we have like 15,000. 15,000 people in SSE, we probably work with about 50,000 contract [00:02:00] partners and we’re heavily dependent, uh, on get our contract partners to get our activities done. And they’re crucial.

Speaker: Mm-hmm.

Mark Patterson: And in that it’s one community and we need to make sure everybody there gets home safe.

And that’s what drove us to think about adding more rules isn’t gonna do it. Um, you need to give people that sense of a feeling, uh, when a really serious sense of cars and then equip them with tools to, to deal with it. So. We’ve all probably seen training that gives that sense of doom and dread when something goes badly wrong, but actually that needs to be.

Coupled with something which is quite powerful, is what are the tools that help people have the conversations that gets everybody home safe. So kind of trying to do two things.

Allen Hall: Well, SSC is involved in a number of large projects. You have three offshore wind farms, about a more than a thousand turbines right now.

Wind turbines onshore, offshore, and those offshore projects are not easy. There’s a lot of complexity to them.

Mark Patterson: Absolutely. So look, I I think [00:03:00] that’s, that’s something that. You’ve gotta partner with the right people. If you wanna be successful, you need to make it easy for people to do the right thing. Yeah, as best you possibly can.

You need to partner with the right people, and you need to get people that you need to have a sense that you need to keep checking that as you’re growing your business. The chinks in your armor don’t grow too. But fundamentally there’s something else, which is a sense of community. When people come together to, to do a task, there is a sense of community and people work, put a lot of discretionary effort into to get, uh, big projects done.

And in that, um, it’s a sense of community and you wanna make sure everybody there gets home safe to their friends and family. ’cause if we’re all being honest about it, you know, SSE is a brilliant company. What we do is absolutely worth doing. I love SC. But I love my family a fair amount more. And if you bought into that, you probably bought into the strategy that we’re trying to adopt in terms of safety.

Uh, it’s really simple messaging. Um,

Allen Hall: yeah. That, that is very clear. Yeah. And it should be [00:04:00]well communicated outside of SSEI hope because it is a tremendous, uh, value to SSE to do that. And I’m sure the employees appreciate it because you have a culture of safety. What. Trigger that. How long ago was that trigger?

Is this, this is not something you thought up yesterday for sure.

Mark Patterson: No, look, this, the, the, what we’ve done in the immersive training center, um, really reinforces a lot of things that we’ve had in place for a while, and it, it takes it to the, the next level. So we’ve been working probably more than 10 years, but, uh, certainly the.

Seven years we’ve been talking very much about our safety family, that’s the community and SSE with our contract partners and what we need to do. And part of that is really clear language about getting people home safe. Uh, a sense that you’ve, everybody in it that works with us has a safety license. And that license is, if it’s not safe, we don’t do it.

It’s not a rural based thing. It’s how we roll. It’s part of the culture. We’d, we, uh, have a culture where, and certainly trying to instill for everybody a culture. Where [00:05:00] they’ve got that license. If, if they think something’s not right, we’ll stop the job and get it right. And even if they’re wrong, we’ll still listen to them because ultimately we need to work our way through, right?

So we’ve been, we’ve thought hard about the language we wanted to use to reinforce that. So the importance of plan, scan and adapt. So planning our work well, thinking through what we need to do. Not just stopping there though, keeping scanning for what could go wrong. That sense that you can’t remember everything.

So you need to have immediate corrective actions and that immediate sort of see it, sort of report it. If you see something that isn’t right, do something about it. And that sense of community caring for the community that you work with. And those are the essence of our, our language on safety and the immersive training.

Uh, is not trying to shove that language down everybody’s throats again, particularly our contract partners, but it’s, it’s helping people see some really clear things. One is if a [00:06:00] really serious incident occurs at what, what it feels like here. And I’ve spent a lot of time in various industries and people are different when they’ve been on a site or involved when there’s been a really serious incident and you need to do something to.

Get that sense of a feeling of what it feels like and actually make people feel slightly uncomfortable in the process. ’cause that’s part of it,

Allen Hall: right? Yes.

Mark Patterson: Because you know,

Allen Hall: you remember that.

Mark Patterson: You remember that. Yeah. We’ve had, you know, we’ve had people say, well, I felt very uncomfortable in that bit of the training.

It was okay. But was, I felt very uncomfortable. And you know, we’ve talked about that a lot.

Allen Hall: Yeah.

Mark Patterson: We know you kinda should because if there’s something wrong with you, if you don’t feel uncomfortable about that. But what’s super powerful on the guys in at TT do brilliantly. Is have facilitators that allow you to have that conversation and understand what do you need to do differently?

How do you influence somebody who’s more senior? How do you, how do you bring people with you so that they’re gonna [00:07:00] do what you want ’em to do after you’ve left the building? And. Just pointing the finger at people and shouting at them. Never does that. Right? Uh, rarely does that. You’ve gotta get that sense of how do you get people to have a common belief?

And,

Allen Hall: and I think that’s important in the way that SSE addresses that, is that you’re not just addressing technicians, it’s the whole chain. It’s everybody is involved in this action. And you can break the link anywhere in there. I wanna get through the description of why that. Process went through ATTs head to go.

We need to broaden the scope a little bit. We need to think about the full chain from the lowest entry worker just getting started to the career senior executive. Why chain them all together? Why put them in the same room together? Yeah. Why do you do that?

Dermot Kerrigan: Well, behavioral safety or behavioral base safety kind of got a bad rep because it was all about.

If we could just [00:08:00] make those guys at the front line behave themselves,

Allen Hall: then everything’s fine,

Dermot Kerrigan: then everything’s fine.

Allen Hall: Yes.

Dermot Kerrigan: But actually that’s kind of a, the wrong way of thinking. It didn’t work. I, I think,

Allen Hall: yeah, it didn’t work.

Dermot Kerrigan: What the mess, the central message we’re trying to get across is that actually operational safety is not just the business of operational people.

It’s everybody’s business.

Allen Hall: Right.

Dermot Kerrigan: You know? Um, and. Yeah, everybody has a role to p play in that, you know? Right. So site based teams, back office support functions, everybody has a role to play. And, you know, there’s a strand in, in this scenario where, uh, an incident takes place because people haven’t been issued with the right piece of equipment.

Which is a lifting cage.

Allen Hall: Yes.

Dermot Kerrigan: And there’s a whole story about that, which goes through a procurement decision made somewhere where somebody hit a computer and a computer said no because they’d asked for too many lifting cages when they, somebody could have said, you’ve asked for five lifting cages, it’s takes you over the procurement cap.

Would four do it? [00:09:00] Yes, that would be fine. That would be fine. Yeah. As it is, they come to a crucial piece of operation. This incr this, you know, this crucial piece of kit simply isn’t there. So in order to hit the deadline and try and make people happy, two ordinary guys, two technicians, put two and two together, make five, and, and one of them gets killed, you know?

Yeah. So it’s, we’re, we’re trying to show that, that this isn’t just operational people. It’s everybody’s business.

Mark Patterson: Well, that’s why we worked with you in this, because, um, we saw. Why you got it in terms of that chain? Um, so in, in the scenario, it’s very clear there’s a senior exec talking to the client and actually as SSE.

We’re sometimes that client, we’ve got big principal contractors that are doing our big construction activities. We’ve got a lot in renewables and onshore and offshore wind obviously, but, and the transmission business and in thermal, so, uh, and distribution. So I’ll list all our businesses and including customer’s business, but we’ve got some big project activities where we’re the client sometime we’re the principal contractor [00:10:00] ourselves.

And we need to recognize that in each chain, each link in that chain, there’s a risk that we say the wrong thing, put the wrong pressure on. And I think what’s really helpful is we have in the center that sort of philosophy here that we get everybody in together mixed up. Probably at least half of our board have done this.

Our executive team have all done this. Um, people are committed to it at that level, and they’re here like everybody else sitting, waiting for this thing to start. Not being quite sure what they’re gonna go through in the day. Um, and it’s actually really important you’ve got a chief exec sitting with somebody who’s, um, a scaffolder.

That’s really important. ’cause the scaffolder is probably the more likely person to get hurt rather than chief exec. So actually everybody seeing what it’s like and the pressures that are under at each level is really important.

Allen Hall: SSC is such a good example for the industry. I watched you from outside in America for a long time and you just watch the things that happened.

[00:11:00] Here you go. Wow. Okay. SSC is organized. They know what they’re doing, they understand what the project is, they’re going about it. Mm-hmm. Nothing is perfect, but I, I think when we watch from the United States, we see, oh, there’s order to it. There’s a reason they’re doing these things. They’re, they’re measuring what is happening.

And I think that’s one of the things about at t is the results. Have been remarkable, not just here, but in several different sites, because a TT touches a lot of massive infrastructure projects in the uk and the success rate has been tremendous. Remember? You wanna just briefly talk about that?

Dermot Kerrigan: Yeah. But we, we run a number of centers.

We also run mobile programs, which you got from having seen us in the States. Um, but the first, uh, center that we, we, we opened was, was called. Epic, which stood for Employers Project Induction Center, and that was the Thames Tideway Tunnel Project, which is now more or less finished. It’s completed. And that was a 10 year project, 5 billion pounds.

Allen Hall: Wow.

Dermot Kerrigan: Um, [00:12:00] and you know, unfortunately the fact is on, on that kind of project, you would normally expect to hurt a number of people, sometimes fatally. That would be the expectation.

Allen Hall: Right. It’s a complicated

Dermot Kerrigan: project, statistic underground. So, you know, we, and, and of course Tide, we are very, very. Very pleased that, uh, in that 10 year span, they didn’t even have one, uh, serious life-changing injury, uh, let alone a fatality.

Um, so you know that that’s, and I’m I’m not saying that what ATTs work, uh, what we do is, is, is, is directly responsible for that, but certainly Epic, they would say Tideway was the cornerstone for the safety practices, very good safety practices that they, they put out. Uh, on that project, again, as a cultural piece to do with great facilities, great leadership on the part of the, of the, of the executive teams, et cetera, and stability.

It was the same ex executive team throughout that whole project, which is quite unusual.

Allen Hall: No.

Dermot Kerrigan: Yeah. [00:13:00] Um, so yeah, it, it, it seems to work, you know, uh, always in safety that the, the, the, the tricky thing is trying to prove something works because it hasn’t happened. You know?

Allen Hall: Right, right. Uh, prove the negative.

Dermot Kerrigan: Yeah. Um,

Allen Hall: but in safety, that’s what you want to have happen. You, you do know, not want an outcome.

Dermot Kerrigan: No, absolutely not.

Allen Hall: No reports, nothing.

Dermot Kerrigan: No. So, you know, you have to give credit to, to organizations. Organizations like SSE. Oh, absolutely. And projects like Tideway and Sted, uh, on their horn projects. Who, who have gone down this, frankly, very left field, uh, route.

We we’re, you know, it is only in the last 10 years that we’ve been doing this kind of thing, and it hasn’t, I mean, you know, Tideway certainly is now showing some results. Sure. But, you know, it’s, it’s, it, it wasn’t by any means a proven way of, of, of dealing with safety. So

Mark Patterson: I don’t think you could ever prove it.

Dermot Kerrigan: No.

Mark Patterson: And actually there’s, there’s something [00:14:00]fundamentally of. It, it kind of puts a stamp on the culture that you want, either you talked about the projects in SSE, we’ve, we’ve done it for all of our operational activities, so we’ve had about 9,000 people through it for SSE and so far about 2000 contract partners.

Um, we’re absolutely shifting our focus now. We’ve got probably 80% of our operational teams have been through this in each one of our businesses, and, uh, we. We probably are kind of closing the gaps at the moment, so I was in Ireland with. I here guys last week, um, doing a, a mobile session because logistically it was kind of hard to come to Perth or to one of the other centers, but we’re, we’re gradually getting up to that 80%, uh, for SSE colleagues and our focus is shifting a bit more to contract partners and making sure they get through.

And look, they are super positive about this. Some of them have done that themselves and worked with a TT in the past, so they’re. Really keen to, to use the center that we have [00:15:00] here in Perth, uh, for their activities. So when, when they’re working with us, we kind of work together to, to make that happen. Um, but they can book that separately with you guys.

Yeah. Uh, in, in the, uh, Fastly Center too.

Allen Hall: I think we should describe the room that we’re in right now and why this was built. This is one of three different scenes that, that each of the. Students will go through to put some realism to the scenario and the scenario, uh, a worker gets killed. This is that worker’s home?

Dermot Kerrigan: Yeah. So each of the spaces that we have here that, that they denote antecedents or consequences, and this is very much consequences. Um, so the, the, the participants will be shown in here, uh, as they go around the center, uh, and there’s a scene that takes place where they meet the grown up daughter of the young fella who’s been right, who’s been, who’s been tragically killed.

Uh, and she basically asks him, uh, asks [00:16:00] them what happened. And kind of crucially this as a subtext, why didn’t you do something about it?

Allen Hall: Mm-hmm.

Dermot Kerrigan: Because you were there,

Allen Hall: you saw it, why it was played out in front of you. You saw, you

Dermot Kerrigan: saw what happened. You saw this guy who was obviously fast asleep in the canteen.

He was exhausted. Probably not fit for work. Um, and yet being instructed to go back out there and finish the job, um, with all the tragic consequences that happen,

Allen Hall: right?

Dermot Kerrigan: But it’s important to say, as Mark says, that. It’s not all doom and gloom. The first part of the day is all about showing them consequences.

Allen Hall: Sure. It’s

Dermot Kerrigan: saying it’s a,

Allen Hall: it’s a Greek tragedy

Dermot Kerrigan: in

Allen Hall: some

Dermot Kerrigan: ways, but then saying this doesn’t have to happen. If you just very subtly influence other people’s behavior, it’s

Allen Hall: slight

Dermot Kerrigan: by thinking about how you behave and sure adapting your behavior accordingly, you can completely change the outcome. Uh, so long as I can figure out where you are coming from and where that behavior is coming from, I might be able to influence it,

Allen Hall: right.

Dermot Kerrigan: And if I can, then I can stop that [00:17:00] hap from happening. And sure enough, at the end of the day, um, the last scene is that the, the, the daughter that we see in here growing up and then going back into this tragic, uh, ending, uh. She’s with her dad, then it turned out he was the one behind the camera all along.

So he’s 45 years old, she’s just passed the driving test and nobody got her 21 years ago. You know,

Mark Patterson: I think there, there is, there’s a journey that you’ve gotta take people through to get to believe that. And kind of part of that journey is as, as we look around this room, um, no matter who it is, and we’ve talked to a lot of people, they’ll be looking at things in this room and think, well, yeah, I’ve got a cup like that.

And yes. Yeah. When my kids were, we, we had. That play toy for the kids. Yes. So there is something that immediately hooks people and children hook

Allen Hall: people.

Mark Patterson: Absolutely. And

Allen Hall: yes,

Mark Patterson: they get to see that and understand that this is, this is, this is, could be a real thing. And also in the work site, uh, view, there’s kind of a work site, there’s a kind of a boardroom type thing [00:18:00] and you can actually see, yeah, that’s what it kind of feels like.

The work sites a little bit. You know, there’s scuffs in the, on the line, on the floor because that’s what happens in work sites and there’s a sense of realism for all of this, uh, is really important.

Allen Hall: The realism is all the way down to the outfits that everybody’s worn, so they’re not clean safety gear.

It’s. Dirty, worn safety gear, which is what it should be. ’cause if you’re working, that’s what it should look like. And it feels immediately real that the, the whole stage is set in a, in the canteen, I’ll call it, I don’t know, what do you call the welfare area? Yeah. Okay.

Dermot Kerrigan: Yeah.

Allen Hall: Okay. Uh, wanna use the right language here.

But, uh, in the states we call it a, a break room. Uh, so you’re sitting in the break room just minding your own business and boom. An actor walks in, in full safety gear, uh, speaking Scottish very quickly, foreign American. But it’s real.

Mark Patterson: I think

Allen Hall: it feels real because you, you, I’ve been in those situations, I’ve seen that that break the,

Mark Patterson: the language is real and, uh, [00:19:00] perhaps not all, uh, completely podcast suitable.

Um, but when you look at it, the feedback we’ve got from, from people who are closer to the tools and at all levels, in fact is, yeah. This feels real. It’s a credible scenario and uh, you get people who. I do not want to be in a safety training for an entire day. Um, and they’re saying arms folded at the start of the day and within a very short period of time, they are absolutely watching what the heck’s going on here.

Yes. To understand what’s happening, what’s going on. I don’t understand. And actually it’s exactly as you say, those subtle things that you, not just giving people that experience, but the subtle things you can nudge people on to. There’s some great examples of how do you nudge people, how do you give feedback?

And we had some real examples where people have come back to us and said even things to do with their home life. We were down in London one day, um, and I was sitting in on the training and one of the guys said, God, you’ve just taught me something about how I can give feedback to people in a really impactful [00:20:00] way.

So you, so you explain the behavior you see, which is just the truth of what the behavior is. This is what I saw you do, this is what happened, but actually the impact that that has. How that individual feels about it. And the example that they used was, it was something to do with their son and how their son was behaving and interacting.

And he said, do you know what? I’ve struggled to get my son to toe the line to, to look after his mom in the right way. I’m gonna stop on the way home and I’m gonna have a conversation with him. And I think if I. Keep yourself cool and calm and go through those steps. I think I can have a completely different conversation.

And that was a great example. Nothing to do with work, but it made a big difference to that guy. But all those work conversations where you could just subtly change your tone. Wind yourself back, stay cool and calm and do something slightly different. And I think that those, those things absolutely make a difference,

Allen Hall: which is hard to do in the moment.

I think that’s what the a TT training does make you think of the re the first reaction, [00:21:00] which is the impulsive reaction. We gotta get this job done. This has gotta be done. Now I don’t have the right safety gear. We’ll, we’ll just do it anyway to, alright, slow. Just take a breather for a second. Think about what the consequences of this is.

And is it worth it at the end of the day? Is it worth it? And I think that’s the, the reaction you want to draw out of people. But it’s hard to do that in a video presentation or

Dermot Kerrigan: Yeah.

Allen Hall: Those things just

Dermot Kerrigan: don’t need to practice.

Allen Hall: Yeah. It doesn’t stick in your brain.

Dermot Kerrigan: You need to give it a go And to see, right.

To see how to see it happen. And, and the actors are very good. They’re good if they, you know. What, whatever you give them, they will react to.

Mark Patterson: They do. That’s one of the really powerful things. You’ve got the incident itself, then you’ve got the UNP of what happened, and then you’ve got specific, uh, tools and techniques and what’s really good is.

Even people who are not wildly enthusiastic at the start of the day of getting, being interactive in, in, in a session, they do throw themselves into it ’cause they recognize they’ve been through [00:22:00] something. It’s a common sense of community in the room.

Dermot Kerrigan: Right.

Mark Patterson: And they have a bit of fun with it. And it is fun.

Yeah. You know, people say they enjoy the day. Um, they, they, they recognize that it’s challenged them a little bit and they kinda like that, but they also get the opportunity to test themselves. And that testing is really important in terms of, sure. Well, how do you challenge somebody you don’t know and you just walking past and you see something?

How do you have that conversation in a way that just gets to that adult To adult communication? Yeah. And actually gets the results that you need. And being high handed about it and saying, well, those are the rules, or, I’m really important, just do it. That doesn’t give us a sustained improvement.

Dermot Kerrigan: PE people are frightened of failure, you know?

Sure. They’re frightened of getting things wrong, so give ’em a space where they, where actually just fall flat in your face. Come back up again and try again. You know, give it a go. And, because no one’s, this is a safe space, you know, unlike in the real world,

Allen Hall: right?

Dermot Kerrigan: This is as near to the real world as you want to get.

It’s pretty real. It’s safe, you know, uh, it’s that Samuel Beckett thing, you know, fail again, [00:23:00] fail better,

Allen Hall: right?

Mark Patterson: But there’s, there’s a really good thing actually because people, when they practice that they realize. Yeah, it’s not straightforward going up and having a conversation with somebody about something they’re doing that could be done better.

And actually that helps in a way because it probably makes people a little bit more generous when somebody challenges them on how they’re approaching something. Even if somebody challenges you in a bit of a cat handed way, um, then you can just probably take a breath and think this. This, this guy’s probably just trying to have a conversation with me,

Allen Hall: right.

Mark Patterson: So that I get home to my family.

Allen Hall: Right.

Mark Patterson: It’s hard to get annoyed when you get that mindset. Mindset

Allen Hall: someone’s looking after you just a little bit. Yeah. It does feel nice.

Mark Patterson: And, and even if they’re not doing it in the best way, you need to be generous with it. So there’s, there’s good learnings actually from both sides of the, the, the interaction.

Allen Hall: So what’s next for SSE and at t? You’ve put so many people through this project in, in the program and it has. Drawn great results.

Mark Patterson: Yeah.

Allen Hall: [00:24:00] How do you, what do you think of next?

Mark Patterson: So what’s next? Yeah, I guess, uh, probably the best is next to come. Next to come. We, I think there’s a lot more that we can do with this.

So part of what we’ve done here is establish with a big community of people, a common sense of what we’re doing. And I think we’ve got an opportunity to continue with that. We’ve got, um, fortunate to be in a position where we’ve got a good level of growth in the business.

Allen Hall: Yes,

Mark Patterson: we do. Um, there’s a lot going on and so there’s always a flow of new people into an organization, and if people, you know, the theory of this stuff better than I do, would say that you need to maintain a, a sense of community that’s kind of more than 80%.

If you want a certain group of people to act in a certain way, you need about 80% of the people plus to act in that way, and then it’ll sustain. But if it starts. To drift so that only 20% of people are acting a certain way, then that is gonna ex extinguish that elements of the culture. So we need to keep topping up our Sure, okay.

Our, our [00:25:00] immersive training with people, and we’re also then thinking about the contract partners that we have and also leaving a bit of a legacy. For the communities in Scotland, because we’ve got a center that we’re gonna be using a little bit less because we’ve fortunate to get the bulk of our people in SSE through, uh, we’re working with contract partners.

They probably want to use it for. For their own purposes and also other community groups. So we’ve had all kinds of people from all these different companies here. We’ve had the Scottish first Minister here, we’ve had loads of people who’ve been really quite interested to see what we’re doing. And as a result of that, they’ve started to, uh, to, to step their way through doing something different themselves.

So,

Allen Hall: so that may change the, the future of at t also. And in terms of the slight approach, the scenarios they’re in. The culture changes, right? Yeah. Everybody changes. You don’t wanna be stuck in time.

Dermot Kerrigan: No, absolutely.

Allen Hall: That’s one thing at t is not,

Dermot Kerrigan: no, it’s not

Allen Hall: stuck in time.

Dermot Kerrigan: But, uh, I mean, you know, we first started out with the centers, uh, accommodating project.

Yeah. So this would [00:26:00] be an induction space. You might have guys who were gonna work on a project for two weeks, other guys who were gonna work on it for six months. They wanted to put them through the same experience. Mm. So that when they weren’t on site. That they could say, refer back to the, the, the, the induction and say, well, why ask me to do that?

You know, we, we, we both have that experience, so I’m gonna challenge you and you’re gonna accept challenge, et cetera. So it was always gonna be a short, sharp shock. But actually, if you’re working with an organization, you don’t necessarily have to take that approach. You could put people through a little bit of, of, of, of the training, give ’em a chance to practice, give ’em a chance to reflect, and then go on to the next stage.

Um. So it, it becomes more of a, a journey rather than a single hard, a single event experience. Yeah. You don’t learn to drive in a day really, do you? You know, you have to, well, I do transfer it to your right brain and practice, you know?

Allen Hall: Right. The more times you see an experience that the more it’s memorable and especially with the, the training on how to work with others.[00:27:00]

A refresh of that is always good.

Dermot Kerrigan: Yeah.

Allen Hall: Pressure changes people and I think it’s always time to reflect and go back to what the culture is of SSE That’s important. So this, this has been fantastic and I, I have to. Thank SSC and a TT for allowing us to be here today. It was quite the journey to get here, but it’s been really enlightening.

Uh, and I, I think we’ve been an advocate of a TT and the training techniques that SSC uses. For well over a year. And everybody we run into, and in organizations, particularly in win, we say, you, you gotta call a TT, you gotta reach out because they’re doing things right. They’re gonna change your safety culture, they’re gonna change the way you work as an organization.

That takes time. That message takes time. But I do think they need to be reaching out and dermo. How do they do that? How do, how do they reach att?

Dermot Kerrigan: Uh, they contact me or they contact att. So info at Active Trading Team, us.

Allen Hall: Us. [00:28:00] There you go.

Dermot Kerrigan: or.co uk. There you go. If you’re on the other side of the pond. Yeah.

Allen Hall: Yes. And Mark, because you just established such a successful safety program, I’m sure people want to reach out and ask, and hopefully a lot of our US and Australian and Canadian to listen to this podcast. We’ll reach out and, and talk to you about how, what you have set up here, how do they get ahold of you?

Mark Patterson: I’ll give you a link that you can access in the podcast, if that. Great. And uh, look. The, the risk of putting yourself out there and talking about this sort of thing is you sometimes give the impression you’ve got everything sorted and we certainly don’t in SSE. And if the second you think you’ve got everything nailed in terms of safety in your approach, then, then you don’t.

Um, so we’ve got a lot left to do. Um, but I think this particular thing has made a difference to our colleagues and, and contract partners and just getting them home safe.

Allen Hall: Yes. Yes, so thank you. Just both of you. Mark Dermott, thank you so much for being on the podcast. We appreciate both [00:29:00] of you and yeah, I’d love to attend this again, this is.

Excellent, excellent training. Thanks, Alan. Thanks.

Inside ATT and SSE’s Faskally Safety Leadership Centre

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