Australian clean-tech company Coolsheet™ has begun installing the country’s first commercial-scale Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) solar system at the North Sydney Olympic Pool redevelopment, marking a key step in integrating renewable heat and power into public infrastructure.
Image source: Capral Aluminium
The project combines Coolsheet’s heat-exchange solar technology with Capral Aluminium’s Australian-made components, creating a system designed to generate both electricity and usable heat from a single rooftop array.
Located above Sydney Harbour, the redeveloped complex will use the system to capture the sun’s light and heat simultaneously. While conventional photovoltaic panels typically convert only about 25 per cent of sunlight into electricity, Coolsheet’s panels reclaim the remaining thermal energy using a lightweight aluminium water jacket mounted behind each PV module. The captured heat can then be stored in hot-water tanks or used to pre-heat water for heat pumps. Cooling the solar cells also increases electrical efficiency and extends panel life — enabling a dual-output energy platform that maximises solar potential.
At North Sydney Olympic Pool, the installation links Coolsheet’s heat exchangers to the rear of 206 solar modules rated at 550 W each, creating around 114 kWe of electrical capacity and producing two to three times that amount in thermal energy. The output will help maintain water temperatures for over three million litres across five pools, forming part of the site’s all-electric heating network.
The system aligns with North Sydney Council’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035, and the extra power from cooled panels is expected to offset the system’s own pump energy use.
“Coolsheet is proud to partner with North Sydney Council on this landmark project,” said Tom Hoole, Founder and CTO of Coolsheet. “It’s been a complex construction program but now, as the site nears completion, it’s clear this will be a world-class facility showcasing how renewable heat can be built into public infrastructure.”
Coolsheet, founded in Sydney, is Australia’s first PVT manufacturer and among only about 50 globally. Its patented system has undergone validation testing at UNSW Sydney, supporting local manufacturing and deployment of renewable heat technologies. “The opportunity for Australian industry is significant,” said Doug Smith, Chairman of Coolsheet. “By capturing more of the sun’s energy through both electricity and heat, we can help manufacturers improve efficiency, reduce energy costs, and strengthen energy resilience all while supporting local jobs and clean technology manufacturing.”
The system’s backbone relies on precision-engineered aluminium extrusions supplied by Capral, built for durability and corrosion resistance in outdoor environments. “As an Australian manufacturer with a national extrusion and distribution footprint, Capral is focused on enabling the country’s rapidly developing renewables sector,” said Tony Dragicevich, CEO of Capral. “Our role is to bring local expertise, consistent quality and responsive supply to projects like this — supporting innovators with the engineered aluminium solutions they need to deliver clean-energy outcomes at scale.”
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