The city is doubling its solar output with a new solar farm at the Loganholme Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Logan City Council claims that makes ratepayer solar the leading generator of renewable energy in the city.
The new 1 megawatt farm is expected to partly power the Biosolids Gasification Plant where biochar will be produced.
Council’s solar capacity is now 2MW with more projects to come on line, a statement said.
The IKEA building at Slacks Creek is believed to be the City of Logan’s largest commercially-operated renewable energy producer.
Its 714KW solar array capability could provide power to around 200 homes.
Logan City Council’s solar capacity is enough to power around 600 homes, according to the Climate Council.
Deputy mayor Jon Raven said residents of Logan were ramping up the installation of solar.
“Our sports facilities, libraries and our depots are increasingly being powered by the Queensland sun,” he said.
“This not only reduces our carbon emissions but ultimately benefits ratepayers by increasing our mix of energy options to save money on power bills.”
Cr Raven said plans are underway to install solar panels at council’s administration centre in Wembley Road, Logan Central.
Council facilities such as the Mt Warren Sports Centre, the Marsden and Logan North Libraries and the Logan West Community Centre use solar energy.
The Round Mountain Reservoir at New Beith is run by solar panels and an off-grid Tesla battery.
Infrastructure chair Teresa Lane said Logan Water is always looking at ways to reduce its carbon footprint.
“It’s no secret that our water and wastewater treatment plants are big consumers of energy,” Cr Lane said.
“That’s why we’ve seen great ideas like the Biosolids Gasification Plant and the battery-powered Round Mountain Reservoir being brought online to provide green and renewable alternatives.
“The LWWTP solar farm shows Logan City Council is setting the lead for other businesses and councils to follow.”
The Biosolids Gasification Plant uses extreme temperatures to ‘bake’ sewage sludge (biosolids) and turn it into a renewable product that’s capable of a number of uses.
Once operational it will reduce the volume of biosolids by 90% saving ratepayers around $500,000 annually in haulage costs, while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
