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In the heart of tropical North Queensland, where the Great Barrier Reef meets the world’s oldest rainforest, Tropic Wings is showing what the future of tourism looks like. Together, we’ve delivered one of Australia’s first fully integrated electric bus depot projects - powered by solar, supported by battery storage, and designed to keep running even during grid outages with a generator
Tropic Wings, part of the CaPTA Group, has been leading nature-based tourism experiences since the early 1980s. Their goal was clear: reduce emissions, enhance guest experience, and future-proof operations.
“We thought it would be much better for our guest experience if we had quieter, cleaner buses,” says Colin Anderson, General Manager, Tropic Wings Tours & Charters.
But as the team discovered, electrifying a depot takes much more than just installing chargers.
That’s where EnergyAustralia came in. We partnered with Tropic Wings to deliver an end-to-end solution - from assessing grid capacity and designing load-management systems to installing battery energy storage and integrating their solar generation into the EV charging infrastructure setup. Partly funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the project became a first for tourism and charter operators in Australia.
In phase one Tropic Wings is scaling from a single charger to a 12-bus electric fleet involved complex regulatory and technical challenges - from flood-resilient construction to optimising site layout and power flow.
“Having a partner like EnergyAustralia was critical,” says Michael Woodward, Director – CaPTA Group. “They helped us understand what was practical, what was possible, and how to plan for future expansion.”
The EnergyAustralia team worked closely with local partners, including Babinda Electrics, to design a system that would keep Tropic Wings operating even during grid disruptions. By layering solar generation, battery storage, and an automatic transfer switch (ATS), we ensured the depot could seamlessly switch to backup power when the grid went down.
“This level of resilience is what makes renewable transport viable in regional Australia,” says Bruce Hanslo, e-Fleet Leader, EnergyAustralia, who led the project.
For ARENA, the project demonstrates how small operators can make a big impact through the right partnerships.
“Having a small operator like Tropic Wings pair up with EnergyAustralia or other experienced energy companies is a really important aspect to give confidence to the investor community that this can be managed well,” says Darren Miller, CEO, ARENA. “When we provide grants to new innovations, we’re always looking for who we’re dealing with and their capability to deliver. Delivery ability is a crucial aspect to giving everybody confidence that we can do this.”
Reflecting on the journey, Jack Kotlyar, Head of Green Transport, EnergyAustralia, says the project underscores the importance of collaboration and early engagement.
“It takes a village to electrify a depot. There are so many suppliers and stakeholders involved - from councils to electricity Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs). The key is to start early and work closely with your DNSPs to plan your grid connection and infrastructure from the ground up.”
Today, Cairns’ streets are quieter, with electric buses gliding between the reef and the rainforest. For Tropic Wings, the shift has not only reduced emissions but also improved the visitor experience.
Transport makes up nearly 20 percent of Australia’s emissions, and as our grid decarbonises, electrifying this sector is essential.
“By supporting operators like Tropic Wings,” Jack adds, “we’re powering a lower emissions future for tourism in Australia.”
