Meet the Sunflower, one of Australia’s first mobile solar generator systems and Southern Cross University’s green solution to power the music festivals of the future. 

This innovative “Arts meets Science” project emerged from a Southern Cross University Sustainability Research grant to design and build a Solar energy technology prototype to replace polluting diesel generators that are installed at most Australian outdoor music festivals.

This was 2013 and no one had heard of Tesla or Lithium Batteries.

Lead project researcher and senior lecturer in Music and Audio Technology Dr Barry Hill explains, “the aim of the Sunflower project has been to develop a 'think green' ethos within the Australian music industry and to promote the use of the latest tech solutions in regards to sustainable power generation and efficient audio-visual technology.”

The Sunflower design features an eye-catching tilting hexagonal solar PV array created by SCU Visual Arts students.  This array connects to a lithium battery bank designed to provide reliable safe electrical power for a small music festival stage over an entire weekend music festival.   

The Sunflower is compatible with professional music event audio and lighting systems, that now use energy efficient digital audio and led Lighting technology in place of old incandescent lighting and inefficient sound amplifiers.

The Sunflower was designed and constructed at SCU Northern Rivers Campus Lismore NSW by a team of Audio Technology and Creative Arts researchers working in collaboration with local and national industry partners, including suppliers, engineers, fabricators and energy consultants.

Dr Hill explains “At the start of the design process, we did some comprehensive power audits of all the electrical devices used for lighting and sound reproduction on a small outdoor festival stage.  This included guitar amps, keyboards computers sound and lighting systems.”

“We realised that a PA System rated at 15,000 watts peak power consumption was only consuming on average 10-20 percent of peak power.  From our calculations, we predicted a 20kwh battery pack (equivalent to 2 tesla power walls) could guarantee power for a small festival stage for three to four days even without any solar charge.”

Since 2013, the Sunflower has been successfully installed at over 100 events and major festivals including Vivid Sydney, Splendour in the Grass, Bluesfest and Woodford Folk Festival. It has been seen by over 500,000 festival goers and has saved over 1,000 litres of diesel or 2,700 kg of CO2.

It has also been tested as a:

• power portable phone charging hub and Wi-Fi hotspot.
• emergency and off grid power station. 
• self-recharging high output power source for remote and emergency applications. 
• portable Recharge station for Electric Vehicles.

Southern Cross University Musicians have even turned it into musical instrument! 

The Sunflower was created not only to reduce emissions, but to spark educational conversations, with artwork designed to improve community understanding of alternative energy technology. In a short survey of event attendees, over 80% of individuals say The Sunflower increased their knowledge of electricity and sustainable energy. 

Southern Cross University has recently secured funding to extend the project, intending to build a bigger prototype in collaboration with UNSW World Leading SPREE Center with the aim to design a mobile microgrid power system to sustainably power an entire festival sites and replace diesel generators.

With The Sunflower leading the way, it’s clear it won’t be long before we are living in a world where every music festival is powered exclusively by sustainable solar energy.

To find out more about the Sunflower visit Southern Cross University Sunflower Website and Socials. To find out how you can green your next festival, get in touch with Green Music Australia.

Southern Cross University is a member of the Party with the Planet alliance, comprising major music festivals, promoters, artists, social enterprises, and nonprofits across Australia. 

Launched in 2019 and led by Green Music Australia, the alliance unites members to collaborate on key areas of environmental sustainability including waste and adaptation.

The Party With The Planet Alliance is supported by the NSW Environment Protection Authority and the NSW Government through Create NSW.