Townsville Solar City
The Townsville Solar City was launched on 13 September 2008.
The Townsville Solar City project will focus on Magnetic Island and the city of Townsville, including Rocky Springs and Riverway and the Townsville Central Business District.
The Townsville Solar City consortium is working with government, businesses and the local community to rethink the way they produce and use energy.
What is involved?
Townsville is a rapidly growing Queensland city with increasing energy demands. Receiving approximately 300 days of sunshine each year, Townsville is an ideal location for a Solar City.
One of the unique trials underway through the Townsville Solar City involves installing energy efficiency measures and solar energy systems on a large number of homes on Magnetic Island to address energy demand and reduce pressure on the electricity network.
Information about energy use and energy related community behaviour will be collected from a range of trials which integrate the following components:
In the Solar Suburb of Magnetic Island
- installing up to one megawatt of solar energy at selected residential and business premises at no cost to the owner
- installing smart meters and/or in-house energy displays in homes to provide timely information about energy use and electricity costs
- providing assistance for households and businesses to take on more energy efficient behaviour and save money
- providing opportunities for customers to adopt cost reflective pricing structures and incentives to encourage reduction of electricity use in periods of peak demand
- testing better electricity management systems which allow customers to more efficiently manage their air conditioners, including enhanced air conditioning control.
Across the Townsville region
- providing assistance for households and businesses to better manage electricity demand and save money
- installing additional smart meters to monitor energy data
- installing additional solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and energy efficiency measures in two new housing estates and a central business district building.
Benefits
The Townsville Solar City Consortium expects significant community, industry and environmental benefits over the life of the program including:
- savings of thousands of kilowatt hours of electricity
- a reduction in thousands of tonnes of greenhouse emissions.
The Solar City trial in Townsville will provide valuable information and lessons to inform Australia's future energy and greenhouse policies.
Consortium leaders
The Townsville Solar City consortium is joining with the Australian Government in delivering this trial. The consortium is led by Ergon Energy, with members including the Townsville City Council, HIG Riverway (JV), Delfin Townsville and Cafalo Pty Ltd and the Queensland Government's Department of Mines and Energy.
To find out more on the Townsville Solar City or to become a participant, if you live in the eligible Council area, go to the Townsville Solar City website - www.townsvillesolarcity.com.au.
