MEDIA  RELEASE    
   
Thursday,  13  January  2011  
 
Commercial  solar  stands  on  its  own  
 
Solar  Shop  Australia  has  committed  to  driving  a  10-­‐fold  increase  in  the  number  of  
commercial  solar  power  systems  installed  across  the  nation  during  the  next  three  years  
following  the  separation  of  its  commercial  business  into  an  independent  commercial  entity,  
SSA  Commsolar  Pty  Ltd.  
 
Newly  appointed  General  Manager  of  Commsolar,  Frank  Teofilo,  said  there  was  a  growing  
demand  from  progressive  Australian  businesses  -­‐  particularly  those  in  isolated  regional  
areas  and  mining  sites  that  require  remote  energy  generation  -­‐  for  tailor-­‐made  solar  energy  
solutions.    
 
Mr  Teofilo  said  in  addition  to  large-­‐scale  embedded  generation  on  commercial  and  
industrial  rooftops,  Commsolar  was  committed  to  freeing  businesses  and  communities  in  
remote  areas  from  their  heavy  reliance  on  diesel-­‐powered  generators.    
 
“Adding  to  the  cost  of  transporting  diesel  to  remote  locations,  the  generators  themselves  
can  cost  between  25  and  35  cents  per  kilowatt  hour  to  run,  making  it  an  expensive  exercise  
and  costly  to  the  environment,”  Mr  Teofilo  said.    
 
“Many  of  Australia’s  most  isolated  communities  are  located  in  solar  favourable  regions  and  
there’s  already  a  large  number  of  commercial  operations  that  could  benefit  financially  by  
investing  in  solar  power.  
 
“Solar  can  easily  substitute  20  to  30  per  cent  of  their  power  generation  needs,  reduce  
overheads  and  potentially  increase  profits,  not  to  mention  the  inarguable  environmental  
benefits,  making  a  strong  business  case  for  solar  power.”  
 
In  2009  the  Commsolar  team  -­‐  then  part  of  Solar  Shop  Australia  -­‐  was  responsible  for  
installing  the  country’s  largest  commercial  solar  system,  a  one-­‐megawatt  solar  farm  at  the  
Royal  Adelaide  Showgrounds.  It  showcased  how  photovoltaic  panels  could  be  used  on  a  
commercial  scale  and  set  a  precedent  for  similar  projects  across  the  nation.  
 
“During  the  past  10  years  Solar  Shop  Australia  has  continuously  demonstrated  outstanding  
technical  expertise  and  a  proven  ability  to  deliver  solar  solutions  on  both  a  residential  and  
commercial  scale,”  Mr  Teofilo  said.  
 

 
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 Commercial  solar  stands  on  its  own  
   
“However,  in  light  of  the  pending  changes  to  Renewable  Energy  Targets,  the  time  was  right  
to  separate  the  two  divisions  and  embrace  a  more  strategic  approach  that  would  ensure  the  
differing  needs  of  the  two  sectors  were  met.  
 
“Commercial  clients  are  far  more  focused  on  how  solar  power  can  reduce  their  overheads,  
assist  them  to  obtain  price  certainty  and  achieve  their  sustainability  goals.  
 
“As  the  nation’s  largest  supplier  of  residential  grid-­‐connect  solar  power  systems  and  
boasting  a  truly  national  footprint,  we  have  the  expertise  and  capacity  to  become  the  
leading  provider  of  commercial  solar  systems  in  the  100kw  to  5MW  space,”  he  said.  
 
And  Mr  Teofilo  looks  like  the  right  man  to  achieve  this,  with  over  two  decades  of  experience  
in  the  energy  sector,  including  previously  holding  senior  positions  at  Integral  Energy,  
AquaSpy  Group,  BP  Solar  and  Toro  Australia.      
 
Throughout  his  career,  Mr  Teofilo  has  gained  extensive  experience  in  growing  companies,  
expanding  business  units  and  building  brands.  He  has  a  diverse  background  in  general  
management,  sales,  marketing,  product  management  and  electrical  engineering.    
 
He  has  also  been  a  member  of  various  government  taskforces  related  to  energy,  advisory  
boards  and  standards  committees.  
 
Mr  Teofilo  says  he’s  looking  forward  to  growing  Commsolar  and  helping  more  Australians  
experience  the  overwhelming  benefits  that  solar  power  delivers.  
 
-­‐Ends-­‐  
 
Contact:     Victoria  Firth  of  communikate  et  al  
0415  194  095  or  victoria@communikate.net.au  
 

ABOUT  COMMSOLAR  
Commsolar  is  a  registered  division  of  Solar  Shop  Australia  and  specialises  in  providing  businesses  
with  solar  solutions  to  help  meet  their  energy  requirements  and  deliver  on  their  sustainability  goals.  
Commsolar  is  one  of  the  nation’s  leading  providers  of  remote  solar  energy  generation  technology  
and  is  responsible  for  some  of  the  largest  commercial  solar  installations  in  the  country,  including  a  
1MW  solar  farm  at  the  Royal  Adelaide  Showgrounds.  For  more  information  visit  
www.commsolar.com.au.  
 
 
 
 

 
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