Solar power for Bay hospital

HERVEY Bay Hospital has signed off on a $1.3 million solar panel project that will make the hospital one of the most energy-efficient in Queensland.

Energy Minister Stephen Robertson announced the contracts for the project had been finalised this week and construction was expected to begin by the end of the month.

He said the solar panel system would generate about 385 megawatt hours of energy each year and would save the hospital about $20, 000 on energy bills annually.

"It will also help to reduce the hospital's carbon emissions by 400 tonnes a year," he said.

"Depending on the weather, installation will begin within a few weeks."

The tender was awarded to ABB Australia, an international company whose Australian headquarters are in Sydney.

ABB power generation manager Jason Venning said the company would draw from its international experts to deliver the project.

"This marks a significant milestone for ABB in Australia," he said.

The project will be the largest rooftop PV system in a Queensland hospital, including systems installed in Ipswich, Nambour, Logan and Redcliffe.

It will include a web-kiosk and a large screen television inside the hospital foyer that will show how much energy the system is producing on daily, monthly and annually.

The project is part of the State Government's clean energy plan in Hervey Bay that includes a $2.3 million community solar farm in Nikenbah.