Nationwide, the five solar cities will install over 3,500 solar systems in buildings and homes; provide more than 15,000 smart meters to give residents real-time information about their energy use; install 4,100 solar hot water systems; conduct over 8,400 energy audits; and issue 71,500 energy efficiency packs to households and businesses.

This will all help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 89,000 tonnes each year, equivalent to taking more than 22,000 cars off the road.

The results from these trials will also assist other communities in adapting to a future emissions trading system – by demonstrating how to implement energy efficient options that reduce both energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Adelaide

The Adelaide Solar City was Australia’s first, announced in August 2006. The northern areas of Salisbury, Tea Tree Gully and Playford are the key focus of this trial, with 1,700 solar systems being installed on homes and commercial buildings across the area.

The project includes 7,000 smart meter installations, as well as 40,000 energy efficiency and information packages to be provided to households and commercial customers.

Also, landlords will be encouraged to help low-income renters by installing solar power and solar hot water systems and smart metering technologies, while consumers across the region will receive help to finance their solar systems.

The Adelaide Solar City consortium includes project leaders Origin Energy, BP Solar, Big Switch, the City of Salisbury, Mawson Lakes Development and the ANZ Banking Group.

Results for the Adelaide project are expected to include a 9 MW cut in peak electricity demand, with the potential to defer investment of peak infrastructure; savings of 28 GW hours of energy, representing $5 million a year in lower electricity costs; and a reduction of 30,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year, with a further cut of more than 500,000 if the consortium’s broader objective to encourage the take up of Green Power is achieved – equal to taking 80 per cent of the areas cars off the road.

Alice Springs

The Alice Springs Solar City project was announced in April 2007 and was given $12.5 million in funding through the initiative and the Renewable Remote Power Generation Program.

With 225 residential and five commercial PV systems providing 1.3 MW of solar energy, as well as incentives for PV uptake including a buy-back tariff trial, the Alice Springs consortium is working with government, businesses and the local community to rethink the way they produce energy.

Also included as part of the Alice Springs Solar City are four iconic solar power installations at the Alice Springs Airport, the Araluen Arts Precinct, the Town Pool and the Ilparpa Sewerage Treatment Facility.

In addition, 1,000 domestic solar hot water systems are included, as well as 850 ‘walkthrough’ energy audits to help the community better manage their energy use.

400 smart meters will be provided to the local community, in 50 businesses and 350 homes, combined with a time-of-use tariff to encourage customers to reduce their energy use at times of high demand on the grid.

The Alice Springs project will result in reduced emissions of 12,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, savings of around 10,667 kWh per annum in electricity demand, and increased public awareness and receptivity to more efficient, sustainable energy use.

Townsville

In September 2006, Townsville became Queensland’s first Solar City, with the aim of installing 500 solar systems on homes and businesses and rolling out 2,500 smart meters and 1,700 in-house energy display meters across Magnetic Island and the Townsville region.

In the Solar Suburb of Magnetic Island, practical benefits for the local community will include the installation of up to 1 MW of solar energy across 500 homes and businesses, at no cost to the owner, while 2,500 participants will be assisted in better managing their electricity demand.

The project will also trial the use of electricity tariffs and incentives to encourage participants to reduce electricity use when demand is high.

Across the Townsville region, including Serene Valley and Riverway, this project aims to provide energy efficiency advice to thousands of households and businesses and to install additional solar energy systems and energy efficiency measures in two new housing estates and a CBD building.

The Townsville Solar City will save more than 47 GWh of electricity and reduce greenhouse emissions by 50,400 tonnes.

Blacktown

Blacktown is Australia’s third Solar City and is now officially open for business.

The Blacktown Solar City consortium – BP Solar, Integral Energy, Blacktown City Council, Landcom, ANZ and Big Switch Projects – has prepared a wide range of energy efficiency and solar powered options for the community to choose from. The project will see 860 solar PV systems installed on private and public housing and on commercial and iconic buildings. The panels will be connected to the electricity grid so excess generated electricity won’t be wasted, but fed back into the grid.

The Blacktown Solar City trial will run over six years and information gained and lessons learned from the project will help develop future climate change policies.

The Australian Government has invested $15 million through the Blacktown project with an additional $22 million contributed by consortium members.

On behalf of the Blacktown Solar City consortium, BP Solar’s Regional Director, Brooke Miller said “By bringing together leading companies in the energy, finance and housing sectors, we have created a selection of packages that greatly improve the accessibility and affordability of energy saving measures. Solar energy systems in particular will be considerably more economical, with discounts and financing options providing savings of up to 50 per cent on system prices.

“Over the life of the project we expect that more than 800 solar electricity systems and more than 400 solar hot water heaters will be installed on homes, public housing and commercial buildings, helping to tackle the region’s energy challenges.”

Residents and businesses will also have access to expert advice on how changes to their behaviour can save energy, as well as gaining access to other energy saving products such as discounted insulation, free compact fluorescent light bulbs and low-flow shower-heads.

“The project’s packages go well beyond solar power,” said Ms Miller. “By combining a range of approaches to saving energy this project will deliver valuable data that will be critical to developing future government policy.”

Some of the innovative packages available to residents include the opportunity to participate in a range of energy studies that will help households use energy more efficiently. With the use of smart meters and other forms of technology available today, participants will be able to save money simply by changing the times they use energy or by adjusting the use of particular appliances such as air conditioners on hot summer days.

The Blacktown Solar City project also encourages residents from non-English speaking backgrounds to take part. The project will distribute information throughout the community in 10 different languages via community champions, energy education hubs and the project website.

Central Victoria

In mid-July, Central Victoria was announced by Treasurer Peter Costello and Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull to be the location of the fifth Solar City in Australia.

The Central Victorian Solar Cities trial will establish two iconic 300 kW solar parks featuring tilting solar walls that track the sun to increase the amount of energy delivered by the system.

“Participants in the trial in Ballarat and Bendigo will have a chance to ‘rent’ a portion of a solar park, use the energy it generates, and ultimately have the option to buy into the park,” Mr Turnbull said.

The Central Victorian Solar City consortium will receive up to $15 million in Federal funding, and the consortium, consisting of Sustainable Regional Australia, Bendigo Bank, Origin Energy, PowerCor, Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, E3i Developments, Sustainability Victoria, University of Ballarat and the Central Victorian Area Consultative Committee will contribute an additional $26.8 million to the project.

Around 2,500 households and more than 100 businesses, schools and community facilities will take part in the Central Victoria trial. Some 1,200 residents will use smart meters, some with display panels, to better understand their energy use. Photovoltaic systems will be installed on 300 residences, and around 700 solar hot water systems will be installed.

In addition, 1,500 household energy efficiency packages will be offered to residents to reduce their energy bills, and energy efficiency audits and advice will be provided to more than 70 businesses, 23 schools and 13 community facilities.

These measures are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 13,000 tonnes a year. This is equivalent to taking more than 3,200 cars off the road.