Solar energy is increasingly becoming an important and reliable source of clean, renewable energy for homes and businesses in South Australia.
To increase the uptake of small to medium solar installations in the state the South Australian Government is:
- supporting homes and businesses to install solar hot water systems and photovoltaic (PV) panels through rebates and the solar feed-in scheme
- investing in major solar energy projects across the state and attracting investment in solar energy from the private sector.
South Australia was the first state in Australia to introduce a solar feed-in scheme.
As of August 2011, approximately127 megawatts of domestic level solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity had been installed or had approval to connect.
Government funded solar installations
Adelaide Showground – a solar power station
Installation capacity: 1 MW (megawatt)
Annual energy generation: 1,400 MWh (megawatt-hour)
Estimated greenhouse gas savings: 1,400 tonnes/year
Cost of the project: $8 milllion
Adelaide Showground has one of Australia’s largest solar panel installations. The installation covers 10,000 square metres and is recognised by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator as an official renewable power station. The panel can produce enough electricity to power 200 homes. The project was completed in September 2009.
Adelaide Airport
Installation capacity: 114 kW (kilowatt)
Annual energy generation: 160 MWh (megawatt-hour)
Estimated greenhouse gas savings: 160 tonnes/year
Cost of the project: $1 million
Adelaide Airport generates a large part of its energy needs from its photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. The panels were funded by the SA Government. The electricity generated by the panels is enough to power 30 homes all year round. The project was completed in May 2008.
State Library of South Australia
Installation capacity: 18.6 kW (kilowatt)
Annual energy generation: 26 MWh (megawatt-hour)
Estimated greenhouse gas savings: 26 tonnes/year
The State Library of SA solar system consists of 116 grid-connected solar panels. The system was commissioned in August 2005.
Art Gallery of South Australia
Installation capacity: 19.2 kW (kilowatt)
Annual energy generation: 27 MWh (megawatt-hour)
Estimated greenhouse gas savings: 27 tonnes/year
The Art Gallery of SA solar panels were commissioned into service in July 2003.
Parliament House
Installation capacity: 20 kW (kilowatt)
Annual energy generation: 28 MWh (megawatt-hour)
Estimated greenhouse gas savings: 28 tonnes/year
The grid-connected photovoltaic system at Parliament House was commissioned in June 2005.
South Australian Museum
Installation capacity: 19.8 kW (kilowatt)
Annual energy generation: 28 MWh (megawatt-hour)
Estimated greenhouse gas savings: 28 tonnes/year
The 116 panel grid-connected solar system at the South Australian Museum was completed in November 2002.
More information
On this site
What is solar energy?
Installing a solar (PV) system
Other websites
Renewables SA