ONE of the region’s largest shopping centres will from this week be generating enough green energy to power 1000 homes.
Hyperdome at Loganholme has officially switched on the city’s largest rooftop solar system.
“There’s no other way to describe this system – it’s massive,” energy minister and Springwood MP Mick de Brenni said.
The system will generate almost five megawatts of cleaner, cheaper energy. That’s 5000 kilowatt hours, or the same energy created by 50 car engines at the same time.
There are 12,000 panels, when – if laid end-to-end – would be 26km long.
Hyperdome centre manager Brian Turner said the rooftop solar system would reduce the shopping centre’s carbon emissions by 6050 tonnes every year.
“That’s the equivalent of taking 2,800 cars off the road, so it’s a net win for the entire community,” Mr Turner said.
“Over the next 25 years, the Hyperdome system will also save 2573 tonnes in carbon emissions – that’s is equivalent to 30,878 trees being planted.”
Yurika executive general manager Carly Irving said the Hyperdome project showed it was possible to deliver large-scale solar projects in commercial settings.
She said it would improve the environmental performance of large shopping centres.
“The Smart Connected Solar platform also allows for integration of batteries, electric vehicle chargers and our Internet of Things ecosystem platform to ensure we can enhance the capability of the systems to meet future requirements,” she said.
“Now that it’s up, running and future-proofed, the door is open for the Hypderdome to look at battery storage and more electric vehicle chargers, to take full advantage of the renewable revolution.”
Mr de Brenni said the Hypderdome solar system was the latest project delivered through a partnership between Queensland’s publicly-owned Yurika and the Queensland Investment Corporation.
“Projects like this are … driving Queensland towards our 50% renewable energy target by 2030,” he said.
