Project cost

Approximately $30 million

Project time frame

2007 – 2013 (approximately)

Australian Government contribution

Up to $15 million

Consortium contribution

Approximately $15 million (including $5 million from the Queensland Government through the Department of Mines and Energy)

Consortium members

Ergon Energy leads the consortium and has responsibility for the delivery of the project.

Other consortium members are:

• Townsville City Council
• Delfin Lend Lease 
• Honeycombes Property Group
• Cafalo Pty Ltd
• Federation Place

The Queensland Government, through the Department of Mines and Energy has contributed $5 million to the project.

Project locations

Magnetic Island, Rocky Springs, Riverway, a Townsville CBD commercial building and the RSL stadium. The whole project is supported and enhanced by the Townsville City Council’s Citysolar community capacity building and education program.

Magnetic Island Solar Suburb

A solar energy and efficiency trial on Magnetic Island is the focus of the Townsville Queensland Solar City project.

Magnetic Island was selected for the trial location because of its clear physical demographic and electricity network boundaries. This supports a robust measurement and monitoring program.

Ergon Energy has been able to measure the impact of the trial on the island’s energy consumption through the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across selected residential and business premises as well as smart meters and in-house energy displays.

Environmental Benefits

The estimated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (from the combined Townsville Queensland Solar City initiatives) is 53,605 tonnes (at June 2012) or 7% above the project target of 50,000 tonnes with 12 months remaining in the Ergon Energy Solar Suburb project – the same benefit as taking more than 1,700 cars off the road for seven years. Benefits as a result of this reduction in emissions include: 

• national and international recognition of the initiative;
• more environmentally friendly power for customers;
• opportunity for customers to improve their comfort levels, reduce their power consumption and therefore their bills and their environmental impact;
• increased awareness across Queensland and Australia of renewable energy options; and
• an opportunity for Ergon Energy to develop business models that may ultimately support solar generation on a much larger scale.