The Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, Victoria has the largest urban grid-connected solar photovoltaic array in the Southern Hemisphere consisting of 1328 solar panels covering one third of the market roof.
The system, launched in April 2003, has the capacity to generate 252,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year for the Queen Victoria Market – enough to power around 46 average Australian homes a year.
| Location | Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Country | Australia |
| Type | Commercial building |
| Building size | Large |
Summary of features
- 1328 solar photovoltaic laminates installed. Each laminate measures 1.59 metres by 0.79 metres.
- The installation took about 2000 man hours to complete.
- The system generated 239,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity during the 2003-2004 financial year.
- The installation saved more than 350 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions for the 2003-2004 financial year alone (based on Australian Greenhouse Office estimations that in Victoria, every kilowatt-hour of electricity generated by clean energy sources – sun, wind and water – abates an equivalent of 1.467 kilograms of greenhouse gases).
- To help market visitors understand more about the project and solar power in general, BP Solar and Origin Energy have a permanent, real-time display on-site to show:
- Current kilowatts of 100 per cent clean electrical power being generated.
- The total megawatt-hours (1 megawatt-hour = 1000 kilowatt-hours) of clean electrical energy produced to date; and
- The corresponding total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions achieved to date.
- 83 solar inverters are located under the eaves of the Queen Victoria Market
Additional information
The latest power readings and CO2 savings being generated by the solar power system can be viewed online. These readings are also available on a public display located outside the food court in Queen Street (opposite “B” Shed) at the market.
The decision to switch the Queen Victoria Market to solar power offers the City of Melbourne and the community the distinct benefits of significantly reduced energy bills and a dramatic reduction in the volume of greenhouse gases being generated in Melbourne’s inner-city precinct.
As at 10 January 2008, power details were:
- Latest power generation reading (kWh): 96
- Total power generated since installation (kWh): 1,125,958
- Tonnes of CO2 saved since installation: 1553
- Date and time of last reading: January 10 2008 12:00
Credits
This project, funded by the Australian Greenhouse Office and the City of Melbourne, was awarded to BP Solar with Origin Energy.
External links
- Queen Victoria Market Solar Energy, City of Melbourne
- Precinct sustainability – Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal – City of Melbourne
