Australia's Solar Cities
History of the Solar Cities program
Announcements
- Power turned on at largest solar system in Australia - Media release, 18 February 2009
- Green light for Central Victoria Solar City - Media release, 10 December 2008
- Solar knowledge shines in the desert - Media release, 1 October 2008
- A Solar Suburb within a Solar City - Magnetic Island Solar Suburb
- $13.9 Million for Nation's Seventh Solar City in Perth - Announcement of Perth Solar City, 11 August 2008
- Low-income households a priority for Coburg Solar City - Announcement of Coburg Solar City, 10 June 2008
- Building a Green Future for Australia's Red Centre - Launch of Alice Springs Solar City, 10 March 2008
- Paving the Solar Highway for Businesses in Blacktown, NSW - Installation of the largest single roof mounted solar power system in New South Wales, 1 February 2008
Background
Solar Cities is a $94 million initiative of the Australian Government designed to trial new sustainable models for electricity supply and use. It is being implemented in seven separate electricity grid-connected areas around Australia by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
Assessment process
In 2005, the Department received 23 expressions of interest to participate in the Solar Cities program. Following assessment, 11 cities were invited to submit a detailed business case to host a Solar City trial.
An independent panel of experts assessed each submission and provided advice to the Government about the merits of each business case.
Selection of the successful Solar Cities began in 2006.
Program Guidelines
The Program Guidelines provide information on the eligibility and selection criteria used to assess expressions of interest and subsequent detailed business cases. The guidelines also explain the program's guiding principles.
Successful cities
The first five solar cities were announced between August 2006 and July 2007:
- Adelaide Solar City, South Australia, announced 30 August 2006
- Blacktown Solar City, New South Wales, announced 13 November 2006
- Townsville Solar City, Queensland, announced 26 September 2006
- Alice Solar City, Northern Territory, announced 16 April 2007
- Central Victoria Solar City, announced 19 July 2007.
Prior to the 2007 Federal Election, the Rudd Government made an election commitment to expand the Solar Cities program to include two additional trials in Perth and Moreland. These were formally announced in 2008:
- Moreland Solar City (formerly known as Coburg Solar City), Victoria, announced 10 June 2008
Low-income households a priority for Coburg Solar City - Perth Solar City, Western Australia, announced 11 August 2008
$13.9 million for Nation's seventh Solar City in Perth
The seven cities are now at various stages of implementing the Solar Cities program and will collect data about energy use throughout the program, until June 2013.
At this stage there are no plans to include any more cities in the program.