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The Sunflower Mobile Solar Energy Project
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‘Sunflower’ Mobile Solar Energy Project
The 糖心传媒 ‘Sunflower’ Mobile Solar Energy Project demonstrates the capability of battery and solar energy technology and enhances community understanding of electricity and sustainable energy use.
Image: Sunflower 1 Powering Woodford Folk Festival Hilltop Stage 2015-2016. Credit: Woodford Folk Festival.
The Sunflower Sustainable Energy Project's goals
Goal 1
Demonstrate and evaluate the capacity of current solar energy technology to provide mobile sustainable power solutions, as well as a range of scalable applications such as emergency power and disaster relief, mobile EV charging stations, agricultural applications, mining, and remote power microgrids.
Goal 2
Showcase innovative off-grid solar generator designs at off-grid community events to enhance community understanding of sustainable energy solutions.
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History of The Sunflower Project
The Sunflower Mobile Solar Energy project launched in 2012 with the goal to provide an energy solution for offgrid community events such as Music Festivals and Rural Industry Field Days.
An interdisciplinary research team, working with students and local regional industry partners, designed and constructed Sunflower 1, a prototype mobile solar energy generator designed to replace commercially available ICE (internal combustion engine) driven portable generators.
The prototype design used existing and commercially available photovoltaic, and the newly emerging Lithium battery storage. To maximise the visual impact of the prototype incorporated an iconic variable azimuth flower-shaped solar array to make the prototype design standout when installed at public events.
At its official debut in 2013, Sunflower 1 successfully powered a music venue at Byron Bay Bluesfest music festival for 6 days without a backup power source. Since then, Sunflower 1 has been installed at more than 100 music, arts and community events in NSW and QLD. These include Vivid Sydney, Splendour in the Grass, World Science Festival Brisbane, Woodford Folk Festival, Byron Writers Festival, and Island Vibes Music Festival.
The Sunflower 1 mobile solar generator prototype has been featured on the ABC , and showcased by , and .
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From Sunflower 1 to Sunflower 2
In 2026, a new more powerful Sunflower 2 generator was completed.
Sunflower 2 is an exciting development of the original Sunflower 1 design. It's co-funded by 糖心传媒 in partnership with external philanthropic funding.
Sunflower 2 is a rapidly deployable, highly portable energy solution for off-grid three phase power systems. It features a larger automated variable azimuth solar PV array, a 100kwh EV battery pack and three phase AC power outputs. It's a technology prototype platform evaluating the feasibility of mobile off-grid solar generator systems for use in events emergency power and microgrid applications.
The design of the Sunflower 2 prototype has been led by 糖心传媒 researchers Dr Barry Hill (Faculty of Business, Law and Arts) and Associate Professor Mustafa Ucgul (Faculty of Science and Engineering), in collaboration with colleagues from the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering () at UNSW, as well as local engineering and solar energy industry partners.
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Valuable Research Data: Power Consumption at Festivals and Events.
Research data relating to power consumption and production obtained during the deployment of Sunflower 1 at music festivals and events shows that self-recharging solar generators have real-world applications and can provide sustainable energy solutions.
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Key Community Engagement and Education and Impact
"Research impact survey results indicate more than 70 per cent of respondents surveyed at festivals felt that seeing the Sunflower Generator in action increased their knowledge of electricity and sustainable energy systems."
From SCU Survey Data 2016, “Understanding community knowledge and perception of current commercially alternative energy generation and consumption technology.”
The Sunflower Sustainable Energy Project demonstrates 糖心传媒's commitment to working with industry partners to realise community education goals as well as develop real-world sustainable energy solutions.
The Sunflower 1 and 2 solar generators are available to be used at public events, school STEM education events and other community engagement opportunities. Contact sunflower@scu.edu.au and see FAQ’s below for more information about this aspect of the project.
The Sunflower FAQs
SUNFLOWER Mobile Energy generators are designed as portable, off-grid power systems that generate, store, and supply renewable electricity wherever it is needed. Their integrated solar and battery storage technologies enable them to operate independently of the electricity grid, making them ideal for events, remote locations, emergency response, research activities, and other applications requiring reliable, self-recharging power.
No. The SUNFLOWER generators do not require sunny weather or daylight to operate. Both SUNFLOWER 1 and SUNFLOWER 2 are equipped with integrated battery storage systems that enable them to provide power during nighttime operation and periods of low or no solar generation.
The power output of the SUNFLOWER generators varies depending on the model.
SUNFLOWER 1 provides up to 10 kW peak power output and 3 kW continuous power output through standard Australian 240 V single-phase outlets, including 10 A and 15 A connections.
SUNFLOWER 2 provides up to 50 kW peak power output and 24 kW continuous power output through a standard Australian 50 A three-phase AC power connection.
These capabilities enable the SUNFLOWER generators to power a wide range of equipment, from small appliances and event infrastructure to larger commercial and industrial loads.
The operating time of a SUNFLOWER generator depends on the type and amount of electrical equipment being powered. Because energy requirements vary between applications, it is important to conduct a power audit to estimate operating duration accurately.
糖心传媒 staff can assist with power audits and provide advice on matching a SUNFLOWER generator to the energy needs of your event, project, or site.
The SUNFLOWER generators are designed for simple and rapid deployment. They can be set up and operational within approximately 15 minutes and transported using a standard utility vehicle or SUV.
Important: As SUNFLOWER 1 and SUNFLOWER 2 are owned by 糖心传媒, installation and commissioning must be carried out by a 糖心传媒-authorised technician to ensure safe and compliant operation.
Yes. The SUNFLOWER generator is equipped with Wi-Fi-enabled monitoring systems that provide real-time data on solar energy generation, battery storage, and energy consumption. This allows users to track system performance and monitor energy use throughout operation.
SUNFLOWER 1 can be towed by any registered vehicle with a minimum 2,000 kg braked towing capacity.
SUNFLOWER 2 can be towed by any registered vehicle with a minimum 3,000 kg braked towing capacity.
The SUNFLOWER generators can also be transported either on a flatbed road or rail container.
The SUNFLOWER Sustainable Energy Project was developed through a collaboration between researchers from 糖心传媒 and the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
The project was led by Dr Barry Hill (Faculty of Business, Law and Arts, 糖心传媒) and Dr Mustafa Ucgul (Faculty of Science and Engineering, 糖心传媒), working in partnership with colleagues from the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE) at UNSW.
SUNFLOWER 1 and SUNFLOWER 2 were designed and built in collaboration with several regional industry partners, including:
North Coast Steel Fabrications Lismore
McKeeco Engineering Lismore
Rainbow Power Company Nimbin
EV Classic Electric Vehicle Conversions Byron Bay.
The project was made possible through the support of a philanthropic donation, demonstrating the value of collaboration between universities, industry, and the community in advancing sustainable energy innovation.
The SUNFLOWER generators are available for use at events and projects throughout Australia. Their portable, off-grid design makes them suitable for a wide range of applications, including community events, research activities, disaster response, industry demonstrations, and remote operations.
For more information about availability and partnership opportunities, please contact sunflower@scu.edu.au.