Lockhart River, located on the eastern coast of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, is continuing its transition from a diesel powered community to a solar powered community, with a new solar farm soon to be developed, following the closure of tenders for solar installation.
Minister for Energy, Mark Bailey, said, “The Lockhart solar project will see a portion of the community’s power, normally supplied by diesel generators, soon coming from a 200 kilowatt rooftop solar farm, with some provisions for battery storage.
“The joint partnership between the Department of Energy and Water Supply, Ergon Energy Retail as part of Energy Queensland, and the Department of Housing and Public Works will see the installation of this solar farm on government-owned buildings in Lockhart River.
“The solar farm will provide a clean energy alternative for the diesel-powered community and will include some battery energy storage to help integrate the solar farm with the local diesel generators.
“Tenders have recently closed, and construction of the solar farm is expected to start later this year.”
The Lockhart River solar farm trial is one of four sites in Queensland, including Woodridge, Rockhampton, and Cairns, involved in a trial to deliver electricity savings to some of the state’s most vulnerable.
