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Renewable Energy News

MONDAY 31 AUGUST, 2009 |

Solar Farm Opened On Queensland's Lady Elliot Island

by Energy Matters

Solar farm - Lady Elliot Island
On Saturday, Queensland Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones officially opened a hybrid solar farm for an eco-resort on on Lady Elliot Island, located at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef .

The solar farm consists of 20 kW of solar panels (96 x Kyocera 205 watt), 6000Ah 48V VRLA deep cycle batteries (48 x Sonnenschein A600/3500), an AC coupled inverter system (6 x SMA Sunny Island + 3 x SMA SMC 7000TL); plus a more efficient diesel power generator.  A timber viewing walkway has been constructed around the new power station to allow for educational purposes for visitors.

Since the power plant was brought online, the amount of diesel consumed for the operation of the resort has been reduced from 550 litres per day to 160 litres per day, representing a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 70%.

The system allows for additional solar panels or wind turbines to be added in the future and the proprietors of the Lady Elliot Island eco-resort have a 5-year goal to run the resort entirely on solar power and other renewable energy resources; keeping the generators only for backup.

The solar farm was partially funded by the Australian Governments Renewable Remote Power Generation Programme. The RRPGP is no longer in operation, except for in Western Australia; however funding is being provided for off grid solar power systems and solar farms through the Solar Credits program.

The Australian Federal Government hasn't disregarded the possibility of the RRPGP being reintroduced in some form, but it's unlikely to occur any time soon as according to Penny Wong, Minister Climate Change and Water, the issue will first be referred to the Council Of Australian Governments for review.