Benny Wu, Hong Kong millionaire, claims that his property, Double Island, just off Palm Cove in Cairns, is Australia’s first 100% solar generated island.
Dr Wu told The Cairns post that he has spent a total of $3 million on new infrastructure on the island and he hopes to welcome his first guests to the island by Christmas this year.
Dr Wu bought the lease for Double Island back in 2012 from Sydney Developer, Sean Howard. He claims that the island was neglected whilst in Howard’s hands and there were issues with sewage treatment.
Dr Wu’s solar powered project attracted some unwanted attention from Cairns Regional Council after he cut down a large section of trees on the island without permission. Nevertheless, his project went ahead and now the island is using 100% solar power for its use of energy whereas before, diesel generators were used on the island instead.
Dr Wu claims that the diesel powered generators haven’t been used on the island for a total of six months now and diesel will only be used as an absolute last resort by way of a back up. The energy generated from the solar panels on the island is stored in large scale batteries, weighing roughly a tonne each.
Dr Wu describes his island as a ‘landmark project’ and expresses that it can be ‘replicated for islands everywhere’.
