2 Major Solar Projects Commencing Construction in Hervey Bay

The Queensland government has committed to invest $4 million into solar projects in Hervey Bay in the Fraser Coast region. The initiative is composed of two projects; the 1^st is the $2.7 million Fraser Coast Community Solar Farm, and the 2^nd is the $1.3 million 266 kilowatt solar panel system at the Hervey Bay Hospital.

Energy Minister Stephen Robertson together with the Mayor of Hervey Bay lead the ceremony on Sept 28th to officially begin construction on the first community owned solar farm, not only in the region, but in all of Queensland. The project will cover a total land space of 2,600 square meters and will use 1,584 solar panels to generate over 600 megawatts of electricity to power almost 100 homes in the community.

The solar farm is expected to reduce the region’s carbon emission by 600 tons annually, and eventually reduce energy prices since it may pave the way for more solar farm in the region. The solar farm is also milestone in Queensland since it is both the first stand-alone farm, and the first to integrate with both the industrial and commercial sectors of the state.

The second part of the initiative is installing an extensive solar PV array at the Hervey Bay Hospital. As part of the Queensland commitment to both health and clean energy, the local government has funded a $1.3 million 266 kilowatt solar panels system for the hospital to help offset its carbon emissions and greatly reduce its energy consumption.

In projected figures, the system can save the hospital around $20,000 on energy bills and 400 tons of carbon annually.

These exciting projects are an important economic boost for the area which will create many new jobs. Also they will serve as a major milestone for the local solar power industry and will have a huge impact overall to promote the regional council’s sustainability campaigns.