Categories: Solar

Former coal-fired Brisbane Powerhouse generating energy again, this time solar

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December 20, 2015 2:17 pm

The Brisbane Powerhouse, a former coal-fired plant turned arts venue, has come full circle and is again generating power, but this time through the installation of a 100kW solar array.
The project, developed and brokered by New South Wales-based company Solar Choice was installed by local group Hembrows Electrical using Suntech 255W solar panels and 4x 25kW Schneider Conext inverters.

Solar Choice managing director, Angus Gemmell, said the project delivered “powerful symbolism” that the shift to clean energy was making big strides.

“It’s poignant to see solar panels glistening on the roof old defunct coal generators” Gemmell said.

The Powerhouse, first commissioned in 1928 to provide power for Brisbane’s now shuttered tram system, once delivered 56MW of coal-fired power, but was decommissioned after the trams were replaced with buses in the late 1960s.

In 1989, Brisbane City Council resumed ownership of the building and in the year 2000 it was brought back to life as a community centre, performance hall and events venue.
The addition of the solar panels to the heritage-listed building is the latest in a range of Brisbane City Council’s broader sustainability plans, he help deliver its goal of carbon neutral status for Council operations by 2031.

“Brisbane Powerhouse is thrilled to once again be a power generator, but in a very 21st century way,” said Brisbane Powerhouse CEO Fiona Maxwell in a media release about the project.
“We are delighted with the environmental leadership shown by Brisbane City Council in enabling this project and are excited to be a showcase to cultural precincts nationally for sustainability,” she said.

Sophie Vorrath

Sophie is editor of One Step Off The Grid and deputy editor of its sister site, Renew Economy. Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade.

This post was published on December 20, 2015 2:17 pm

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