Solar supply set to power northern suburb of future
29.11.2007 Mackay Mercury, Written by Sarah Crawford

IF all the street lights in Mackay were run on solar energy an entire power station could be shut down for good. It’s an inspiring thought. And it is something that developers of the planned Northern Beaches green suburb, Plantation Palms, want to put into practice on the streets of their 298ha estate. By creating solar street lighting, developer Kim Clarke said they would save money for the residents and reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the same time. “By day, the lights will be pumping electricity back into the grid and by night the solar energy will light up the streets,” he said. The production of power to send back to the electricity grid and the low cost of the solar energy will mean residents save on their bills. Carbon Friendly Enterprises marketing manager Robert Kerr said the installation of solar lighting would pay for itself in three to five years through electricity savings. But before the streets of the future suburb could be lit-up under the soft glow of solar, Plantation Palms developers had to get their proposal approved by Ergon Energy and Mackay City Council. Yesterday, they began their demonstration on the effectiveness of renewable energy by installing solar lights for their billboards. “It will be a great demonstration on sustainable energy,” Mr Clarke said. Mr Kerr whose company was installing the solar panelling on the billboards said there had to be about a week of extremely overcast weather before the power source failed. “And then there is a back-up system that lasts between three and seven days,” he said. Plantation Palms is off Eimeo and Mackay- Bucasia roads. About half the estate will be park and wetlands, and the developers are planning to install a grey water system for all homes. Mackay City Council approved the first 100 blocks of the development, which will eventually house 5000 resident, on August 23.
29 11 2007 - Solar Supply