Defence Housing to create solar suburb in Darwin, ready for EVs

Defence Housing Australia says it is creating a “solar suburb” in a new development near Darwin, with each home to feature a 4.5kW rooftop solar system and charging points for electric vehicles.

DHA says the initiative will save home owners more than $2,000 a year on their electricity bills, or around 70 per cent of the average bill. (Darwin homes tend to have heavy consumption due to air conditioning in the long, hot summers).

DHA says the new development at Breezes Muirhead will create a 337kW solar suburb, producing 600,000kWh of solar electricity a year. Over their life, the installations could save Defence members more than $4.125 million in electricity costs, and avoid generation of over 8.35 million tonnes of CO2.

The installations from Country Solar will feature JA Solar Panels and Enphase micro-inverters. The micro-inverter technology will enable will be wifi-enabled, allowing residents to monitor their electricity generation live via a smartphone app and website.

DHA Managing Director Peter Howman said the company wanted to ensure that it left a social and environmental legacy. ‘The benefits of this new solar technology are wide-spread.

“In addition to the environmental benefits, the technology and installation will reduce construction times and improve site-safety. The inbuilt technology will also allow residents to see at-a-glance, the real impact of the systems on their electricity bills,” he said in a statement.

Country Solar NT Owner Jeremy Hunt said home-owners will be empowered to take control of their future, with a compatible app that shows the user the energy generated, carbon saved, having this level of monitoring allows for predictive maintenance and even lets them know when cleaning is required.’

Breezes Muirhead is an awarding-winning residential community developed by DHA in partnership with Investa Land. Located just 16 kilometres from Darwin’s CBD, Breezes Muirhead has been specifically designed for Darwin’s tropical climate, with strategically planned streets, lots and homes that capture the prevailing cross flow breezes.