Blacktown Solar City
The Blacktown Solar City was launched on 28 July 2007.
The Blacktown Solar City consortium is working with industry, businesses and the local community to rethink the way they produce and use energy.
What is involved?
Blacktown, in Western Sydney, is a rapidly growing part of urban Australia. One of Blacktown's key energy issues is the high summer energy demand for major appliances such as air conditioners and pool pumps.
Information about energy use and energy related community behaviour will be collected from a range of trials which integrate the following components:
- installing a significant number of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on residential, commercial and some iconic buildings to enable measurement and analysis of energy production and use
- providing Blacktown residents with help to finance household solar PV systems
- installing significant numbers of solar hot water systems on private and public housing with meters which will measure the effect of the systems on energy and water use
- offering energy efficiency consultations for households and businesses
- offering energy efficiency packs for households and commercial customers, to support their energy efficient choices
- installing smart meters in homes to provide timely information about energy use
- providing opportunities for customers to adopt innovative cost reflective pricing structures that allow them to save money by minimising their electricity use at peak times
- introducing trials to allow customers to more efficiently manage their air conditioners and pool pumps during periods of peak electricity demand
One of the unique trials underway in Blacktown is a solar energy kit which combines two sets of solar PV panels-one to heat water and the other to create electricity.
This new combined installation takes up less roof space and is cheaper to install than conventional individual systems.
Benefits
The Blacktown Solar City Consortium expects significant environmental benefits and cost savings to the Blacktown community over the life of the program including:
- savings of thousands of kilowatt hours of electricity each year
- a reduction in thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year
- savings of millions of dollars in electricity bills for the Blacktown City community.
The Solar City trial in Blacktown will provide valuable information and lessons to inform Australia's future energy and greenhouse policies.
Consortium members
The Blacktown Solar City consortium is joining with the Australian Government in delivering this innovative new trial. The consortium is led by BP Solar, with members including Integral Energy, Blacktown City Council, ANZ, Landcom, and Big Switch Projects.
To find out more on the Blacktown Solar City or to become a participant if you live in the eligible Council area go to the Blacktown Solar City website www.blacktownsolarcity.com.au.
