Brisbane's Christmas tree will be powered by the sun. (Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images)
Launching the city's Christmas countdown on Wednesday, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the 18.2-metre tree in the newly-renovated King George Square would feature 16,000 bulbs, 250 red opaque baubles and be powered by a star-shaped solar panel.
"We'll have a bigger and better Christmas tree this year - which we believe is the world's largest solar powered Christmas tree," Mr Newman said.
The Christmas tree will not be wired into any mains system.
The solar panel will generate 50 amps per hour into five heavy duty dry cell gel batteries located inside the base of the tree.
The council's former tree used 5,000 watts of power each hour.
on November 27 the tree's lights will be officially turned on.
