The Ipswich Megawatt Report: Top 30 Solar Installs Mapped & Ranked

Ipswich’s rooftops working together now make ~1.1 GWh on a clear day. That is the sunshine our city throws into the grid before dinner.

For comparison, UQ’s Warwick Solar Farm makes ~0.44 GWh per day from 1x ~150 ha paddock. 1/2 of Ipswich’s daily rooftop total in a single spot.

Take a look at Warwick Solar Farm, owned by UQ. Notice the orange and white ruler on the bird’s eye view image. That shows you 1.166 km width. It helps to understand the scale of this 150 ha solar farm. Can you count the ~200,000+ panels?

Another yardstick sits past Toowoomba. The Western Downs Green Power Hub near Chinchilla makes ~3 GWh per day. That is roughly 3x Ipswich. It covers the electricity equivalent of ~235,000 homes and is the largest solar array in Australia.

Take a look at Western Downs Green Power Hub, out past Toowoomba in the Western Downs. Notice the orange and white ruler on the bird’s eye view image. That shows you 4.82 km N-S measurement on the solar farm. It helps to understand the scale of this 1,500 ha solar farm. Can you count the ~1 million panels?

Take a look at this Solar Capacity To Scale graphic. It shows you the true size of various solar farms—from Ipswich’s #1 up to the world’s #1 in China.

…And here’s the fun bit.

If you blanketed an area the size of 3x Ipswiches in panels, you could power Australia (100%). A back-of-the-envelope thought experiment, sure, but it tells the story.

Here’s what that looks like overtop SEQ:

But all this solar talk can make Swanbank E sound a bit boastful. The modern anchor of Ipswich generation is still Swanbank E, a 385 MW gas plant that can deliver ~9.24 GWh in a full 24-hour run. It doesn’t run flat out every hour, but if it did, it would out-produce all Ipswich rooftop solar by more than 8× in a day.

And speaking of Swanbank—have you heard about the new Swanbank Battery Energy Storage System?

Plugged into the grid via a new 33 kV to 275 kV substation at Swanbank, tied to Powerlink’s 275 kV network. The 250 MW, 500 MWh Tesla Megapack battery charges when solar is plentiful and cheap midday, then discharges in the evening peak to support Ipswich and South East Queensland.

CleanCo Queensland built this $330 million battery system from 138 Tesla Megapacks across a ~2-hectare footprint (where Swanbank B once stood) inside the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub precinct. It’s rated at 250 MW, storing up to 500 MWh—enough to power about 2/3 of Ipswich for 2 hours during peak evening demand.

Why put it in Swanbank, Ipswich you might ask?

Because this precinct already has ~1.2 GW (~1,200 MW) of existing grid connection capability, thanks to its past as a major coal-power hub. With a dedicated new 275 kV connection and substation. It can seamlessly sponge surplus daytime solar energy. Then push it back to the grid at night, when its needed.

And just for fun—how much QLD land area would it take to power Earth’s energy-use?

This much:

With that big-picture energy context in mind, let’s dive into Ipswich’s own solar power champions—the top 30 installations, showcased through images, key facts, and local insights.

Suntory Oceania, Swanbank

Take a look at Suntory Oceania, Swanbank from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler to understand the scale. Can you count the ~7,500 panels?

Details

Suntory Oceania is a beverage manufacturing and distribution hub. Fast fact: Ipswich’s largest single rooftop array anchors the Swanbank precinct.

• Size ~3,600 kW
• Panels ~7,500
• Est cost ~$3.45 m
• Est output per year ~5,600 MWh
• Est daily output ~15.1 MWh → ≈ 840 homes
• Capacity meter ~18%

Bapcor Distribution Centre, Redbank

Take a look at Bapcor Distribution Centre, Redbank from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~3,749 panels?

Details

Bapcor is a national auto parts distribution centre. Fast fact: About 44,000 square metres of warehouse under one roof in Redbank Motorway Estate.

• Size 1,799.5 kW
• Panels ~3,749
• Est cost ~$1.80 m
• Est output per year ~2,790 MWh
• Est daily output ~7.56 MWh → ≈ 420 homes
• Capacity meter ~20%

Yamanto Central, Yamanto

Take a look at Yamanto Central, Yamanto from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~2,776 panels?

Details

Yamanto Central is a shopping centre. Fast fact: The largest retail solar array in Ipswich by capacity.

• Size 1,332.5 kW
• Panels ~2,776
• Est cost ~$1.34 m
• Est output per year ~2,065 MWh
• Est daily output ~5.60 MWh → ≈ 311 homes
• Capacity meter ~33%

Costco, Bundamba

Take a look at Costco, Bundamba from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~2,708 panels?

Details

Costco Bundamba is warehouse retail. Fast fact: Part of Citiswich Business Park beside a high throughput fuel site.

• Size ~1,300 kW
• Panels ~2,708
• Est cost ~$1.31 m
• Est output per year ~2,015 MWh
• Est daily output ~5.46 MWh → ≈ 303 homes
• Capacity meter ~40%

Rheinmetall MILVEHCOE, Redbank

Take a look at Rheinmetall MILVEHCOE, Redbank from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~2,500 panels?

Details

Rheinmetall MILVEHCOE is military vehicle manufacturing. Fast fact: Boxer vehicles and HX trucks are assembled and supported here.

• Size 1,200.1 kW
• Panels ~2,500
• Est cost ~$1.20 m
• Est output per year ~1,860 MWh
• Est daily output ~5.04 MWh → ≈ 280 homes
• Capacity meter ~20%

Orion, Springfield Central

Take a look at Orion, Springfield Central from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~2,100 panels?

Details

Orion is a shopping centre. Fast fact: Part of a Springfield cluster with Lions HQ and Bunnings Springfield.

• Size 1,008 kW
• Panels ~2,100
• Est cost ~$1.01 m
• Est output per year ~1,562 MWh
• Est daily output ~4.23 MWh → ≈ 235 homes
• Capacity meter ~33%

Australia Post Brisbane Parcel Facility, Redbank

Take a look at Australia Post Brisbane Parcel Facility, Redbank from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~2,082 panels?

Details

Australia Post’s Redbank site is an automated parcels hub. Fast fact: Major SEQ facility with heavy daytime automation loads.

• Size 999.4 kW
• Panels ~2,082
• Est cost ~$1.00 m
• Est output per year ~1,549 MWh
• Est daily output ~4.20 MWh → ≈ 233 homes
• Capacity meter ~20%

Churchill Abattoir, Churchill

Take a look at Churchill Abattoir, Churchill from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~1,890 panels?

Details

Churchill Abattoir was red meat processing. This solar array sits adjacent and is owned by the same JV Partners as the Abattoir. Fast fact: Ipswich’s biggest ground mount PV remains in place after the 2017 closure of the operating Abattoir.

• Size 907.2 kW
• Panels ~1,890
• Est cost ~$0.98 m
• Est output per year ~1,406 MWh
• Est daily output ~3.81 MWh → ≈ 212 homes
• Capacity meter ~15%

DB Schenker, Redbank

Take a look at DB Schenker, Redbank from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~1,781 panels?

Details

DB Schenker is 3PL distribution. Fast fact: Former Officeworks SEQ hub with a new QLD mega DC next door.

• Size 854.7 kW
• Panels ~1,781
• Est cost ~$0.92 m
• Est output per year ~1,325 MWh
• Est daily output ~3.59 MWh → ≈ 199 homes
• Capacity meter ~20%

Brighton Homes Arena, Springfield Central

Take a look at Brighton Homes Arena, Springfield Central from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~1,664 panels?

Details

Brighton Homes Arena is the Brisbane Lions stadium and training base. Fast fact: The on site battery of about 700 kW and 1.4 MWh can run the field lights for roughly five hours at full brightness.

• Size 798.7 kW
• Panels ~1,664
• Est cost ~$0.86 m
• Est output per year ~1,238 MWh
• Est daily output ~3.35 MWh → ≈ 186 homes
• Capacity meter ~45%

FedEx, Redbank

Take a look at FedEx, Redbank from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~1,357 panels?

Details

FedEx Redbank is express freight. Fast fact: Regional HQ with a modern automated sort on Monash Road.

• Size 651.2 kW
• Panels ~1,357
• Est cost ~$0.70 m
• Est output per year ~1,009 MWh
• Est daily output ~2.74 MWh → ≈ 152 homes
• Capacity meter ~28%

Bunnings, West Ipswich

Take a look at Bunnings, West Ipswich from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~1,191 panels?

Details

Bunnings West Ipswich is a hardware big box. Fast fact: Largest Bunnings solar roof in Ipswich.

• Size 571.5 kW
• Panels ~1,191
• Est cost ~$0.62 m
• Est output per year ~886 MWh
• Est daily output ~2.40 MWh → ≈ 133 homes
• Capacity meter ~45%

Ripley Town Centre, Ripley

Take a look at Ripley Town Centre, Ripley from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~1,001 panels?

Details

Ripley Town Centre is a shopping centre. Fast fact: Car park PV doubles as shopper shade in summer.

• Size 480.6 kW
• Panels ~1,001
• Est cost ~$0.54 m
• Est output per year ~745 MWh
• Est daily output ~2.02 MWh → ≈ 112 homes
• Capacity meter ~33%

CHEP, Redbank

Take a look at CHEP, Redbank from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~938 panels?

Details

CHEP Redbank is pallet repair and wash. Fast fact: The blue pallet hub keeps SEQ supermarket freight moving.

• Size ~450 kW
• Panels ~938
• Est cost ~$0.51 m
• Est output per year ~698 MWh
• Est daily output ~1.89 MWh → ≈ 105 homes
• Capacity meter ~23%

Bunnings, Springfield Central

Take a look at Bunnings, Springfield Central from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~874 panels?

Details

Bunnings Springfield Central is a hardware big box. Fast fact: Part of the Springfield solar cluster with Orion and Lions HQ.

• Size 419.5 kW
• Panels ~874
• Est cost ~$0.47 m
• Est output per year ~650 MWh
• Est daily output ~1.76 MWh → ≈ 98 homes
• Capacity meter ~45%

Shapecut, Carole Park

Take a look at Shapecut, Carole Park from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~834 panels?

Details

Shapecut is steel processing. Fast fact: 121 Mica Street hosts 15 plus cutting machines and roughly 4 to 5 thousand tonnes of plate.

• Size 400.2 kW
• Panels ~834
• Est cost ~$0.45 m
• Est output per year ~620 MWh
• Est daily output ~1.68 MWh → ≈ 93 homes
• Capacity meter ~20%

Bunnings, Bundamba

Take a look at Bunnings, Bundamba from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~812 panels?

Details

Bunnings Bundamba is a hardware big box. Fast fact: Built on a raised deck beside Bundamba Creek for flood resilience and quick recovery in 2022.

• Size 389.6 kW
• Panels ~812
• Est cost ~$0.44 m
• Est output per year ~604 MWh
• Est daily output ~1.64 MWh → ≈ 91 homes
• Capacity meter ~45%

Marsh Alliance, Carole Park

Take a look at Marsh Alliance, Carole Park from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~767 panels?

Details

Marsh Alliance is metal components and spring manufacturing. Fast fact: Queensland spring maker on Mica Street.

• Size 368.2 kW
• Panels ~767
• Est cost ~$0.42 m
• Est output per year ~571 MWh
• Est daily output ~1.55 MWh → ≈ 86 homes
• Capacity meter ~20%

L’Oréal DC, Redbank

Take a look at L’Oréal DC, Redbank from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~724 panels?

Details

L’Oréal DC is a cosmetics distribution centre. Fast fact: The Redbank site ramped PV during 2024.

• Size 347.6 kW
• Panels ~724
• Est cost ~$0.40 m
• Est output per year ~539 MWh
• Est daily output ~1.46 MWh → ≈ 81 homes
• Capacity meter ~20%

Llewellyn Motors, Booval

Take a look at Llewellyn Motors, Booval from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~693 panels?

Details

Llewellyn Motors is a multi brand dealership. Fast fact: The service bay roof carries most of the PV footprint.

• Size 332.6 kW
• Panels ~693
• Est cost ~$0.38 m
• Est output per year ~516 MWh
• Est daily output ~1.40 MWh → ≈ 78 homes
• Capacity meter ~35%

Woolworths, Redbank Plains

Take a look at Woolworths, Redbank Plains from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~624 panels?

Details

Woolworths Redbank Plains is a supermarket. Fast fact: Refrigeration and HVAC keep most of the solar self consumed.

• Size 299.4 kW
• Panels ~624
• Est cost ~$0.34 m
• Est output per year ~464 MWh
• Est daily output ~1.26 MWh → ≈ 70 homes
• Capacity meter ~15%

Visy Retail Services (ex‑Zenexus), Redbank

Take a look at Visy Retail Services, Redbank from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~521 panels?

Details

Visy Retail Services is a retail distribution centre. Fast fact: After Visy’s 2023 acquisition the DC ships FlexiStorage Rack It and Wrap & Move across QLD.

• Size 250.3 kW
• Panels ~521
• Est cost ~$0.28 m
• Est output per year ~388 MWh
• Est daily output ~1.05 MWh → ≈ 58 homes
• Capacity meter ~23%

St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Hospital

Take a look at St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Hospital from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~510 panels?

Details

St Andrew’s is a private hospital. Fast fact: Around the clock clinical loads soak most PV onsite with minimal export.

• Size 244.8 kW
• Panels ~510
• Est cost ~$0.29 m
• Est output per year ~379 MWh
• Est daily output ~1.03 MWh → ≈ 57 homes
• Capacity meter ~7%

Westside Christian College, Senior

Take a look at Westside Christian College, Senior from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~467 panels?

Details

Westside Christian College Senior is a secondary school. Fast fact: The timetable lines up with sunshine so self use is high.

• Size 224.1 kW
• Panels ~467
• Est cost ~$0.27 m
• Est output per year ~347 MWh
• Est daily output ~0.94 MWh → ≈ 52 homes
• Capacity meter ~48%

Sunny Queen, Carole Park

Take a look at Sunny Queen, Carole Park from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~436 panels?

Details

Sunny Queen is egg producer HQ and processing. Fast fact: Midday chillers and packing soak most PV on site.

• Size 209.5 kW
• Panels ~436
• Est cost ~$0.25 m
• Est output per year ~325 MWh
• Est daily output ~0.88 MWh → ≈ 49 homes
• Capacity meter ~23%

USQ Springfield

Take a look at USQ Springfield from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~428 panels?

Details

USQ Springfield is a university campus. Fast fact: In Education City near Orion and the station.

• Size 205.4 kW
• Panels ~428
• Est cost ~$0.25 m
• Est output per year ~318 MWh
• Est daily output ~0.86 MWh → ≈ 48 homes
• Capacity meter ~30%

Blackwoods, Carole Park

Take a look at Blackwoods, Carole Park from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~421 panels?

Details

Blackwoods is a trade supplies warehouse. Fast fact: Wesfarmers industrial brand for PPE and MRO serving the western corridor.

• Size 201.9 kW
• Panels ~421
• Est cost ~$0.24 m
• Est output per year ~313 MWh
• Est daily output ~0.85 MWh → ≈ 47 homes
• Capacity meter ~28%

Ipswich Central Library

Take a look at Ipswich Central Library from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~417 panels?

Details

Ipswich Central Library is the city library. Fast fact: Part of the Hutchies built Nicholas Street Precinct and home to Australia’s only stand alone public Children’s Library.

• Size ~200 kW
• Panels ~417
• Est cost ~$0.24 m
• Est output per year ~290 MWh
• Est daily output ~0.84 MWh → ≈ 47 homes
• Capacity meter ~55%

USQ Ipswich

Take a look at USQ Ipswich from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~410 panels?

Details

USQ Ipswich is a university campus. Fast fact: Located on the state heritage former Challinor Centre site on Salisbury Road.

• Size 196.6 kW
• Panels ~410
• Est cost ~$0.24 m
• Est output per year ~305 MWh
• Est daily output ~0.83 MWh → ≈ 46 homes
• Capacity meter ~30%

Westside Christian College, Junior

Take a look at Westside Christian College, Junior from a bird’s eye view. Notice the orange and white ruler for scale. Can you count the ~332 panels?

Details

Westside Christian College Junior is a primary school. Fast fact: Primary hours demand means little export on sunny days.

• Size 159.2 kW
• Panels ~332
• Est cost ~$0.19 m
• Est output per year ~247 MWh
• Est daily output ~0.67 MWh → ≈ 37 homes
• Capacity meter ~43%