Solar Cities in Australia
Encyclopedia
Solar Cities is an innovative demonstration programme designed to promote solar power
, smart meter
s, energy conservation
and new approaches to electricity pricing to provide a sustainable energy future in urban locations throughout Australia. Adelaide, Alice Springs, Blacktown, Central Victoria and Townsville were nominated to be the first Solar Cities of Australia, in the 2007 election campaign the Labor government
committed to expanding the programme to include Coburg and Perth. Solar Cities is an innovative program that aims to show how technology, behavior change, and new approaches to energy pricing can combine to provide a sustainable energy future in urban locations throughout Australia” (Alice Solar City Energy Champions 2008, p. 2).
.
Key goals of the program are to demonstrate the possibilities for solar power
, smart meter
s, energy conservation
, new approaches to electricity pricing and sustainable living in urban locations. It is a partnership approach that involves all levels of Government, the private sector and the local community. Consumers will be able to purchase solar photovoltaic panels using discounted loans. The project also plans to help low-income and rental households in the community share in the benefits of the project through other cost-saving initiatives. The Solar City project aims for customers to better understand energy use, electricity companies to understand the extent of cost savings in servicing peak demand periods, to provide a low risk environment to test new sustainable energy options, and for Governments to develop future energy and green house emission policies (Alice Solar City Energy Champions 2008, p. 1). Their vision is to create a model of cooperation between governments, businesses, and the community to achieve a community conscious of its unique environment and natural resources (Alice Solar City, 2008 p. 2). The program emphasizes the importance of being energy efficient as the first priority, followed by utilizing renewable energy sources (Alice Solar City Energy Champions 2008, p. 3).
Energy options being trialled through the Adelaide Solar City include:
A AUD1.54 million project to build Australia's largest roof mounted solar power system on the roof of the Alice Crowne Plaza was announced on 1 October 2008.
Alice Solar City has been operating a little over 1.5 years. To date on 17 March 2009, 610 householders and 32 businesses had registered with Alice Solar City; 520 home energy surveys had been completed, and $1.5 million in financial incentives for energy efficient measures had been issued. Over 40 solar PV and 100 solar hot water systems had been installed (Centralian Advocate 2009e, p. 23). The completed solar technology installations are estimated to save 400,000 kWh per year, which equates to the average energy consumption of about 50 Alice Springs homes (Boon 2009, p. 4).
Projected Environmental Benefits (Alice Solar City Energy Champions 2008)
Reduction in Energy Demand : 5,352 kW
Reduction in annual Energy Consumption: 10,667 MWh/year (Electricity) + 5,233 GJ/year (gas)
Estimated Reduction in CO2 emissions: 8,683 tonnes/year (Electricity) + 4,259 tonnes/year (gas)
Equivalent cars removed per year: 3,266
Equivalent number of all cars in Alice Springs removed per year: 22%
. This project includes efficiency audit trials, 3,500 energy efficiency consultations installation of solar water heaters and photovoltaic panel installation that supplies one megawatt of solar energy, amongst other measures.
is the leader of the consortium initiating the 2007 to 2013 project. The project involved free energy audit
s, installation of smart meters and solar photovoltaic systems installed in selected homes and public buildings.
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
, smart meter
Smart meter
A smart meter is usually an electrical meter that records consumption of electric energy in intervals of an hour or less and communicates that information at least daily back to the utility for monitoring and billing purposes. Smart meters enable two-way communication between the meter and the...
s, energy conservation
Energy conservation
Energy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources...
and new approaches to electricity pricing to provide a sustainable energy future in urban locations throughout Australia. Adelaide, Alice Springs, Blacktown, Central Victoria and Townsville were nominated to be the first Solar Cities of Australia, in the 2007 election campaign the Labor government
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
committed to expanding the programme to include Coburg and Perth. Solar Cities is an innovative program that aims to show how technology, behavior change, and new approaches to energy pricing can combine to provide a sustainable energy future in urban locations throughout Australia” (Alice Solar City Energy Champions 2008, p. 2).
.
Key goals of the program are to demonstrate the possibilities for solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
, smart meter
Smart meter
A smart meter is usually an electrical meter that records consumption of electric energy in intervals of an hour or less and communicates that information at least daily back to the utility for monitoring and billing purposes. Smart meters enable two-way communication between the meter and the...
s, energy conservation
Energy conservation
Energy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources...
, new approaches to electricity pricing and sustainable living in urban locations. It is a partnership approach that involves all levels of Government, the private sector and the local community. Consumers will be able to purchase solar photovoltaic panels using discounted loans. The project also plans to help low-income and rental households in the community share in the benefits of the project through other cost-saving initiatives. The Solar City project aims for customers to better understand energy use, electricity companies to understand the extent of cost savings in servicing peak demand periods, to provide a low risk environment to test new sustainable energy options, and for Governments to develop future energy and green house emission policies (Alice Solar City Energy Champions 2008, p. 1). Their vision is to create a model of cooperation between governments, businesses, and the community to achieve a community conscious of its unique environment and natural resources (Alice Solar City, 2008 p. 2). The program emphasizes the importance of being energy efficient as the first priority, followed by utilizing renewable energy sources (Alice Solar City Energy Champions 2008, p. 3).
Adelaide
The areas of the City of Salisbury, City of Tea Tree Gully and City of Playford and Adelaide City Council part of the Adelaide Solar City. Adelaide has peak electricity supply problems, higher average domestic electricity prices than other States and a large amount of sunshine each year.Energy options being trialled through the Adelaide Solar City include:
- 1,700 solar photovoltaic panels (2MW) will be installed on homes and commercial buildings doubling South Australia's current photovoltaic capacity.
- Consumers will receive help to finance their solar systems.
- Installation of solar panels on up to 5 iconic buildings such as the Adelaide Central Markets, the new Adelaide Bus Depot, Salisbury Watershed, Playford Aquadome and SA Water Building.
- 7,000 smart meters will be installed in homes and businesses to help people monitor their energy use.
- 40,000 energy efficiency and information packages will be distributed.
- An extensive consumer campaign to adopt Green Power.
- Some community housing tenants to trial solar power and solar hot water.
Alice Springs
Some proposed features of the project include:- Several large notable solar power installations.
- 400 smart meters in 350 homes and 50 businesses. These will be combined with a time-of-use tariff to encourage customers to reduce their energy use at times of high demand.
- Residential and commercial photovoltaic systems that will provide solar energy for Alice Springs.
- A buy-back tariff for energy sold back to the grid to encourage takeup of photovoltaic panels.
- 1,000 solar hot water systems for households.
- 850 'walkthrough' energy audits to help the community better manage their energy use. Reductions of up to 20 per cent off their future energy bills are expected.
A AUD1.54 million project to build Australia's largest roof mounted solar power system on the roof of the Alice Crowne Plaza was announced on 1 October 2008.
Alice Solar City has been operating a little over 1.5 years. To date on 17 March 2009, 610 householders and 32 businesses had registered with Alice Solar City; 520 home energy surveys had been completed, and $1.5 million in financial incentives for energy efficient measures had been issued. Over 40 solar PV and 100 solar hot water systems had been installed (Centralian Advocate 2009e, p. 23). The completed solar technology installations are estimated to save 400,000 kWh per year, which equates to the average energy consumption of about 50 Alice Springs homes (Boon 2009, p. 4).
Projected Environmental Benefits (Alice Solar City Energy Champions 2008)
Reduction in Energy Demand : 5,352 kW
Reduction in annual Energy Consumption: 10,667 MWh/year (Electricity) + 5,233 GJ/year (gas)
Estimated Reduction in CO2 emissions: 8,683 tonnes/year (Electricity) + 4,259 tonnes/year (gas)
Equivalent cars removed per year: 3,266
Equivalent number of all cars in Alice Springs removed per year: 22%
Blacktown
The lead organisation for this project is BP SolarBP Solar
BP has been involved in solar power since 1973 and its subsidiary, BP Solar, is a solar power company with production facilities in India and the People's Republic of China, employing a workforce of over 2,000 people worldwide. BP Solar is worldwide manufacturer and installer of photovoltaic solar...
. This project includes efficiency audit trials, 3,500 energy efficiency consultations installation of solar water heaters and photovoltaic panel installation that supplies one megawatt of solar energy, amongst other measures.
Central Victoria
The Central Victoria Solar City was announced on 10 December 2008.It covers one fifth of Victoria and involves 14 municipalities. Locals of Ballarat and Bendigo will be able to support solar power without having a photovoltaic system on their roof, as two large solar parks, each generating 300 kW, will be built near those cities.Coburg
The Coburg Solar City was announced on 10 June 2008. Low income households are intended to be a focus of the program.Perth
Under Stage 1 of the Perth Solar City project it is proposed to:- install 6,000 smart meters and 2,514 smart meters with monitors
- distribute and install 6,300 Perth Solar City energy efficiency packs
- have 20 schools install a 1 kW photovoltaic system and in-class monitors.
- install 663 1 kW PV systems and 695 solar hot water systems.
Townsville
Ergon EnergyErgon (Australia)
Ergon is a corporation owned by the Government of Queensland, Australia. It supplies electricity to Queenslanders outside the metropolitan southeast through a distribution network and retail activities....
is the leader of the consortium initiating the 2007 to 2013 project. The project involved free energy audit
Audit
The general definition of an audit is an evaluation of a person, organization, system, process, enterprise, project or product. The term most commonly refers to audits in accounting, but similar concepts also exist in project management, quality management, and energy conservation.- Accounting...
s, installation of smart meters and solar photovoltaic systems installed in selected homes and public buildings.
See also
- Andrew BlakersAndrew BlakersProfessor Andrew Blakers, Director of the Australian National University Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems, is involved with the development of Sliver Cell photovoltaic technology which uses just one tenth of the costly silicon used in conventional solar panels while matching power,...
- Building-integrated photovoltaics
- Feed-in tariffs in AustraliaFeed-in tariffs in AustraliaFeed-in tariffs in Australia have been enacted by several State Governments for electricity generated by solar photovoltaic systems. Feed-in tariff are a premium rate paid to producers of renewable energy...
- Martin Green
- PhotovoltaicsPhotovoltaicsPhotovoltaics is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells containing a photovoltaic material...
- Photovoltaic and renewable energy engineering in Australia
- Renewable energy commercialization in Australia
- Solar America CitiesSolar America CitiesThe U.S. Department of Energy has named 25 U.S. cities as Solar America Cities which are promoting solar technology adoption at the local level....
- Solar power station in VictoriaSolar power station in VictoriaThe Mildura Solar Concentrator Power Station is a proposed photovoltaic heliostat solar concentrator power station is to be built at Carwarp, near Mildura, Victoria, Australia.The provisional timeline for the project is:...
- Wind power in AustraliaWind power in AustraliaWind power in Australia is a proven and reliable technology that can be and is readily deployed. As of October 2010, there were 52 wind farms in Australia, most of which had turbines of from 1.5 to 3 megawatts...
External links
- $12.3 M for First Solar City in Central Australia
- Central Victoria Solar City Energises Community
- South Australia's Solar Capacity Set to Double
- Solar cities: Generating new approaches
- Alice Springs Solar City
- Australian Government Solar Cities page
- Southern Cross Solar - Solar Design & Installation, Townsville