News from Australia’s Solar Cities

In this issue • A ‘BEEP’ case study from Blacktown Solar

City
Issue 3 • Welcome
• First sod turned for new Solar Park on
• Adelaide Solar City powers Rundle Lantern
November 2009 Magnetic Island
• Alice Solar City Sustainable Living House
• Central Victoria Solar Parks update
on show
• Spotlight
• Perth Solar City agreement signed

Welcome Adelaide Solar City powers

Welcome to the third edition of Solarise – the newsletter
for Australia’s Solar Cities. Each of the Solar Cities
has exciting events to report including launch of the
Rundle Lantern solar installation in Adelaide Solar City,
construction of the Central Victoria Solar City PV Parks,
and signing of the Perth Solar City funding agreement.
Stop press!
Perth Solar City was launched on 5 November by the
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts,
Peter Garrett.
Also on 5 November, Blacktown Solar City’s 110 kW
commercial PV system launched at Coca-Cola Amatil.
See the next issue of Solarise for further information.
Rundle Lantern
Adelaide Solar City is making great progress towards
creating a more sustainable future for Adelaide, with
completion of the Rundle Lantern solar installation - its
fifth key photovoltaic (PV) project.
The 50 kilowatt PV installation was designed and
supplied by consortium member BP Solar. The system is
made up of 297 solar panels and is expected to generate
approximately 70,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity
each year, which is more than enough energy to power
the needs of the Rundle Lantern.
The Rundle Lantern is a dynamic city art installation with
nearly 750 LED panels. The LEDs use 90 per cent less
energy than incandescent light bulbs.
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the
Arts, Peter Garrett, was represented at the 3 September
launch by the Member for Adelaide, the Hon Kate Ellis.
The Rundle Lantern PV system is one of eight key solar
installations planned by the Adelaide Solar City project,
and was made possible through the joint efforts and
commitment of the Australian Government, BP Solar
and Adelaide City Council – partner to Adelaide Solar
City.

Left and above: Rundle Lantern solar installation. From L to R: Tim

Pfieffer, Adelaide City Council; Karlos Silva, BP Solar; Dario De Bortoli,
Origin Energy; Kate Ellis, Member for Adelaide, and Michael Harbison,
Adelaide Lord Mayor (images courtesy Adelaide Solar City)
Alice Solar City Sustainable
Living House on show
The Alice Solar City Sustainable Living House was launched
on 13 September 2009.
The Sustainable Living House is a showcase of the energy
efficiency and solar measures recommended for the arid
environment and available through Alice Solar City.
An open competition was held within the community
which received more than 60 entries. To ensure a holistic
approach that includes water efficiency, Alice Solar City
partnered with local environmental NGO – DesertSMART
COOLmob – which managed and funded the water
efficiency elements of the project.
The winner of the competition has received a complete
energy and water makeover, with over 20 measures
installed including energy efficient LED lighting, grey
water and solar PV systems, double skin thermal walls and
a white roof – which helps keep the temperature of the
house down by up to 15 degrees.
In return, Alice Solar City organises an open-house to
the public once every two months for two years to
demonstrate an energy wise home to the Alice Springs
community.
The energy and water consumption of the house will
continue to be monitored and evaluated.
The first open day was held in conjunction with
Sustainable House Day - over 250 local residents attended.
Perth Solar City agreement
signed
On 7 September, the Perth Solar City agreement was
signed between the Australian Government and the
project’s lead proponent, Western Power.
Joining Western Power in the Perth Solar City consortium
are the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, the Eastern
Metropolitan Regional Council, Eco Smart, Prospero
Productions, Solahart, SunPower, and Synergy.
The Perth Solar City project is the seventh city to receive
funding under the Government’s Solar Cities program
and is also one of the largest demonstration Solar Cities.
Involving the six member councils of the Perth East
Metropolitan Region, support from the project will be
made available to an expected 300,000 residents.
To find out more on Perth Solar City, please visit the
website: www.perthsolarcity.com.au
Above left to right: Michael Ward, Director Solar Cities; Lisa
Cunningham, Manager Smart Grid Western Power; Ross Carter, First
Assistant Secretary Renewables and Energy Efficiency Division; Alan
Balino, Assistant Director Solar Cities; Mary Wiley-Smith (seated)
Assistant Secretary Renewables and Energy Efficiency Division; and
Doug Aberle (seated) CEO Western Power.
Left and above: Alice Solar City Sustainable Living House, one-stop
booster for solar hot water system
A ‘BEEP’ case study from
Blacktown Solar City
The Business Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP) of
Blacktown Solar City targets Blacktown businesses with
typical annual energy costs of more than $75,000. The
program helps eligible businesses take the first steps
towards cutting energy costs and carbon emissions
through energy-efficiency upgrades.
One of many businesses to take up the Blacktown Solar
City offer is the Our Lady of Consolation Aged Care
Services (OLOCACS) which operates 365 days a year,
providing both nursing home and hostel care. The centre
includes a commercial laundry and kitchen, a chapel,
convent, recreation hall, wellness centre, hairdresser and
administration area.
Blacktown Solar City consortium member – Big Switch
Projects – conducts targeted energy audits under BEEP.
The OLOCACS energy audit included a pre-feasibility study
of onsite cogeneration and photovoltaics, and focussed on
lighting, power factor correction and laundry operations.
The audit identified potential energy savings of 1,300
gigajoules per year from improvements to light fittings,
changes to the laundry operations and lighting controls
across the facility. The annual potential energy saving is
the equivalent of removing 42 cars from the road.
OLOCACS CEO, Barry Wiggins, said he was delighted with
the work done through Blacktown Solar City.
“We have some very cost-effective changes we can start
in the near future, and some long term projects that we
can start planning for now with the knowledge that the
payback is only going to get better over time – particularly
if electricity and gas prices change,” Mr Wiggins said.
Above: Our Lady of Consolation Aged Care Services (OLOCACS).
Right: indicative artist’s impression of Magnetic Island PV park
(image courtesy Townsville: Queensland Solar City)
First sod turned for new Solar
Park on Magnetic Island
The first step towards construction of a 100kW Solar Park
on Magnetic Island was taken in late September, with an
official sod turning ceremony at the Smart Lifestyle Centre.
The ceremony took place during a visit by some of
the leading international solar and renewable energy
researchers and industry representatives. The visiting
delegation was enjoying a Renewable Energy Tour of the
Townsville: Queensland Solar City project as part of the
Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society (ANZSES)
Solar 09 Conference in Townsville.
Solar City Project Manager, Ian Cruickshank, said that once
completed, the Solar Park is expected to generate about
119,100 kWh of renewable solar energy and displace over
120 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
“This is an exciting initiative which demonstrates the
commitment of the Townsville: Queensland Solar City
project in delivering practical applications of solar energy
that will assist our understanding of renewable energy and
will also benefit the local community,” Mr Cruickshank said.
“Magnetic Island continues its transformation into a
shining example of what a community can do to learn
about and manage their demand for household energy.
“The development of this Solar Park and the Smart
Lifestyle Centre will only advance this transformation, and
help make the precinct a showpiece and a major drawcard
on Magnetic Island.”
The Solar Park is expected to include a number of
structures to demonstrate multiple ways to use high
quality PV, and will produce publishable results of PV
operation in the tropics.
Community consultation started recently to gain
community input towards the best design for the Solar
Park and associated facilities.
Central Victoria Solar Parks
update
Two 300kW Solar Parks are nearing completion as part of
the Central Victoria Solar City (CVSC). Located in Ballarat
and Bendigo, these Parks have incorporated flat plate
tracking technologies along with fixed plate systems.
The Bendigo Solar Park also integrates battery storage
technology which is the first of its kind in Australia. These
innovations will provide greater monitoring and control
to ensure maximum efficiencies in energy production, at
the same time, increasing the economic return of the solar
energy captured.
The two Solar Parks are expected to become unique
landmarks in Bendigo and Ballarat, and are located next
to the Bendigo Livestock Exchange and at Ballarat Airport,
respectively.  implementing the ideas and plans on the ground.
When combined, the two Solar Parks occupy an area
equivalent to the size of three soccer fields or one and a
half Aussie Rules ovals.
Visitors will be able to visit each Solar Park and observe
digital read outs of the amount of energy generated
by the Park and the amount of greenhouse gas
emissions saved. Three hundred households in Ballarat
and Bendigo will soon have the opportunity to subscribe
to the unique CVSC Solar Park Package.
For more information, please visit
www.centralvictoriasolarcity.com.au or call the Central
Victoria Solar City office on 03 5479 1900.
Above left: Bendigo PV Park
Below left: Ballart PV Park
(image courtesy Central Victoria Solar City)
Spotlight
In this column, we introduce
someone involved with Solar Cities
and learn about their role in the
program.
In this issue we meet Bruce
Thompson, Project Manager of
Moreland Solar City.
How long have you been working on Moreland Solar
City?
I’ve worked on the Moreland Solar City project
for four years, from its development as a concept,
application for funding through to detailed design and
implementation in 2009. It’s very rewarding to now be
What issues do you deal with in a typical working day?
A typical day involves oversight of project
administration, working with our team on design and
delivery of our key initiatives, meeting with consortium
members and project delivery partners.
What excites you most about your Solar City?
There’s a lot of activity within our community on
climate change that’s increasing daily. The Solar
City project is exciting as we can provide practical
assistance to the community and integrate actions to
build a sustainable vision for Moreland.   
Describe the energy saving measures you have
undertaken in your own home?
As a renter, I’ve done most of the basic actions
possible – I have replaced all incandescent lights with
CFLs, draught sealing of doors and windows, switch
off standby appliances, and raised the fridge to aid
air circulation capacity. I’ve recently had a Home
Sustainability Assessment for a Green Loan and I’m
now talking with our landlady to see if we can replace
the existing electric hot water system with either gas
instantaneous or gas solar. 
Further information
Visit the Solar Cities website:
www.environment.gov.au/settlements/
solarcities
© Commonwealth of Australia, 2009
Information contained in this publication may be copied or
reproduced for study, research, information or educational
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