Kilcoy Hospital switches on solar power

Solar panels being installed at Kilcoy Hospital.

A solar PV system at Kilcoy Hospital will offset around 87,969 kWh of the hospital’s yearly energy consumption.

Metro North Health is installing the 60kWh (kilowatt hours) solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the hospital on Kropp Street.

It will create more than 96,000 kWh and reduce 72.9 CO2 tonne emissions annually – enough to offset 100 per cent of power being used on-site during sunny winter days.

Renewable energy such as solar PV is a crucial initial step towards reducing the hospital’s carbon footprint and increasing its resilience to climate change.
Metro North Health has made a commitment to become a leader in sustainability in healthcare and renewables such as solar PV, which are key to delivering energy and emission reductions.

Our Sustainability Strategy 2021-2026 identifies energy as one of the six key focus areas under ‘Green Initiatives’ along with waste, water, transport, food and procurement.

These renewable energy upgrades contribute to the efforts needed to combat climate change, increase energy security and improve the sustainability of the Metro North healthcare system.

Metro North Health’s Sustainable Design Guidelines states that solar PV is to be maximised throughout Metro North Health buildings and facilities.

In 2023, solar PV systems are also being installed at other Metro North Health sites in Nundah, Strathpine, Aspley, Keperra, Red Hill, North Lakes and Brighton.

This large-scale solar PV rollout, totalling around 660kW, is estimated to save Metro North around one million kWh and more than 823 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, with a significant reduction in energy bills.

The Kilcoy Hospital solar upgrade has been funded from the Queensland Health Emission Reduction Fund, which was set up in response to the Queensland Health’s Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction 10 Year Plan (2020-2030).