Australian Solar Cities: Adelaide and Townsville
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11. 1.06
We’ve been a bit slack in updating progress in the Australian Solar Cities, a $75 million AUD initiative to trial solar power and energy efficiency programs in four grid-connected metropolises. Fitting though that the first official designated city would be South Australia’s capital, Adelaide—it was founded 170 years ago by Colonel William Light! The nitty gritty? 1,700 solar photovoltaic panels will end up on homes and commercial buildings — a doubling of South Australia’s current photovoltaic capacity. 7000 smart meters will be installed that, “together with fairer pricing structures, will help people monitor their energy use and save electricity.” 40,000 energy efficiency and information packages to be distributed. If all this comes to pass, they expect a 9 megawatt cut in peak electricity demand, meaning less power plant capacity requiring funding. This is said to represent $5 million AUD a year in lower electricity costs. A reduction 30,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, with a further cut of more than 500,000, should a take-up of Green Power is achieved. Apparently this will be equal to taking 80% of the area’s car fleet off the road. Can’t be bad. Meshes well with Adelaide’s companion plan to be recognised as a Green City, of which the above pictured solar-powered street lighting form a part.
The second city announced as a Solar City is Queensland's Townsville. They’ll get $15 million AUD from the Australian Government to instal solar panels on 500 homes and businesses, which when combined with other measures its figured to
cut the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50,000 tonnes. ::Solar Cities.
Hi Warren,
South Australia is really taking off in terms of its 'climate friendly'initiatives.
I am also from Sydney and find NSW's act in this area pretty grim. NSW seems to be lagging behind other states when it comes to embracing renewable energy. The state government has no renewable energy targets to help encourage wind, solar or other renewable energy industries in NSW.
However Victoria and South Australia are introducing renewable energy targets.
From 2001 to 2005 South Australia installed 215 wind turbines while NSW only installed two.
If NSW introduced a 15 per cent renewable energy target by 2012 it could deliver over $3 billion worth of new investment and more than 2000 jobs.
I have been following the solar city issue myself and also
blogging it.
so please, keep up with the posts
cheers
True Trina, but on the other hand NSW has led the way with the ground breaking scheme Greenhouse Gas Abatement Carbon Trading Scheme as used by eco-offset businesses such as, Neco and EastyBeingGreen, plus the Building Sustainability Index (BASIX), designed to reduce to water and energy consumption in new housing by 40%. Win some, lose some, I guess.