Powering Reef HQ

Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium, Queensland to be registered as a solar power station © Commercial Drone Photography

The Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium in Townsville is the first tourist attraction in Queensland to be registered as a solar power station.

The National Education Centre for the Reef has a 161 kilowatt peak photo-voltaic system installed across 1511 square metres of its roof.

The system produces an average of 752 kilowatt hours per day, and an estimated total of 275 megawatt hours per year - enough to power 34 Queensland homes.

This all adds up to a 260 tonne reduction in greenhouse gas emissions each year, offsetting the aquariums overall energy needs by 25 to 30 per cent.

Thanks to Commercial Drone Photography for the great aerial photo of the solar panels.