Council's solar program enough to power nearly 700 homes

Solar panels reach 7000 Solar panels reach 7000  as the Schrinner Council leads the charge in creating a clean, green and sustainable city. 

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said rooftop solar had been rolled out at more than 40 sites across Brisbane, including libraries, environment centres, cemeteries and works depots.

“We are proud to be certified carbon neutral, so we are constantly looking at ways to reduce our footprint and rooftop solar is one way we can have a real and direct impact,” Cr Schrinner said.

“To have 7000 solar panels installed at Council-owned sites in just five years is a fantastic achievement, bringing the total installed capacity to almost 2.4 megawatts.

“Ashgrove Library, Holland Park Library, Mitchelton Library, Newmarket SES Depot, Darra Field Services Depot and Pinnaroo Cemetery have all benefited from this program, with 428 solar panels installed in the past financial year.

“These systems can together produce around 3642 megawatt hours – that’s enough electricity to power 667 homes and the equivalent of taking around 1020 cars off our roads.

“This is just another great example of our commitment to sustainability as Australia’s largest local government the country’s only carbon neutral certified organisation with operating landfill and a large public transport service.”

Cr Schrinner said Council has offset more than 1.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions since achieving carbon neutral status for its operations in 2017.

“We’re passionate about creating a clean and green Brisbane, so will continue to investigate ways of working better, more efficient and reducing our carbon footprint,” he said.

“We’re also supporting not-for-profit organisations to undertake energy audits and put in place their own energy efficiency technology through our Lord Mayor’s Sustainability Grants, while working with sporting clubs to reduce maintenance costs and cut carbon emissions through the Resilient Clubs Support Program.

For more information about how we are creating a better Brisbane environment just visit https://vickihoward.com/changingclimate/ and  https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green