5th Aussie solar city in Central Victoria

MELBOURNE, July 20 (UPI) -- Australia's fifth successful solar city has been established in Central Victoria.

Australian Treasurer Peter Costello and Malcolm Turnbull, minister for the environment and water resources, announced the Central Victorian Solar City consortium will receive about $13.2 million in government funding to help change the way individuals, communities, businesses and governments think about and use energy, Bendingo News reported.

"Implementing a Solar City is a major undertaking for a community," said Costello. "It involves exploring different business partnerships, trialing new ways of supplying and using energy, and encouraging involvement and investment from business and the community."

The Central Victorian Solar Cities trial would establish two 300-kilowatt solar parks featuring tilting solar walls that track the sun to increase the amount of energy delivered by the system.

Victoria's new Solar City will be based around 13 municipalities, including Bendigo and Ballarat, with a consortium of local government, businesses and community organizations.

Around 2,500 households and more than 100 businesses, schools and community facilities will take part in the trial. Some 1,200 residents will use smart meters, some with display panels, to better understand their energy use. Photovoltaic systems will be installed on 300 residences, and around 700 solar hot-water systems will be installed.

In addition, 1,500 household energy efficiency packages will be offered to residents to reduce their energy bills, and energy efficiency audits and advice will be provided to more than 70 businesses, 23 schools and 13 community facilities.

The Solar Cities program is part of the Australian government's $2.998 billion climate-change strategy that aims to develop clean, low-emission technologies; build an effective global response to the issue; increase understanding of climate-change science; and help communities adapt to the impact of climate change.