By Staff Writer

Adelaide’s iconic Rundle Lantern has made the switch to solar technology.

Lord Mayor Michael Harbison has announced that Rundle Lantern on the Rundle Street U-Park will now be powered by a 50 kilowatt MP Solar photovoltaic system.

The $750,000 system is co-funded by the Australian Government under the Solar Cities initiative and Adeliade City Council under its Major Solar Panels Installation project.

Harbison said 297 solar panels had been installed on the U-Park, placing Rundle Lantern at the forefront of renewable energy technology.

“The Lantern is made up of 748 aluminium panels and illuminates Rundle Street nightly,” Harbison said.

“This new solar photovoltaic system will generate 140 per cent of the power needs of the Rundle Lantern and will also cut Council’s energy use and costs.”

The Federal Member of Adelaide Kate Ellis said the solar system installation was an “excellent example of how governments, industry and the community can work together to create a new energy future”.