Logan City Council has passed a significant renewable energy milestone with more than 1000 kilowatts (kW) of solar photovoltaic panels now installed on Council-owned buildings.
The combined power generation from the 25 systems is expected to save an estimated $140,000 a year in electricity costs and reduce CO2 emissions by more than 930 tonnes.
The latest installation is a 100kW system on the roof of the Logan North Aquatic Centre in Underwood. It features 303 solar panels.
Other new systems include Mt Warren Sports Centre (70kW); Marsden Library (55kW); Logan North Library (83kW) and Logan West Community Centre (18kW).
All of these five sites use “power optimisers” which not only help to boost performance but also allow remote monitoring of the power generation of every solar panel.
Other significant solar systems on Council buildings include Round Mountain (87kW), Marsden Depot (100kW), Logan Metro (100kW) and Beenleigh Library (100kW).
City Planning, Economic Development and Environment Committee Chair Councillor Jon Raven said Council’s Carbon Reduction Strategy and Action Plan sets a 2022 carbon neutrality target that covers all of Council’s operations.
“Embracing solar is good for the environment and for the bottom line. We’re also supporting the renewables industry, which is creating jobs in Logan,” Cr Raven said.
Council’s first ground-based solar PV system has been installed at the Cedar Grove Environmental Centre with a capacity of 150kW.
Loganholme waste water treatment plant will get a 1000kW system which will come on line in 2021/2022. It is estimated it will produce around 2000 MWH per year.
Council’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint continues.
The 2020/2021 Budget, to be handed down on Monday, July 20, includes $308,000 over the next financial to install a 200kW system on the roof of the Council Administration Centre in Logan Central.
It is forecast the system will save Council an additional $38,400 in annual electricity costs and reduce CO2 emissions by a further 250 tonnes per year.
More than 41,000 solar PV systems have been installed on residential, commercial and community buildings across the city representing more than 184 megawatts of capacity.
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