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🇦🇺 Australia /Environment & Climate

Sydney CBD solar farm to cut carbon emissions by 2,000 tonnes a year

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • About 4,500 photovoltaic panels are being installed on the rooftops of the International Convention Centre Sydney, producing enough electricity to power up to 400 homes.
  • The project is expected to cut emissions by up to 2,000 tonnes a year and help the government-owned venue run entirely on green energy.
  • Lighter, more efficient panels will increase the centre’s solar generation by about 300 percent, while older panels will be reused by an animal sanctuary.

Sydney’s International Convention Centre is building what is being described as the largest solar farm in any central business district in the Southern Hemisphere. About 4,500 panels will cover the venue’s rooftops and generate enough electricity to power up to 400 homes.

Coming to one of the most environmentally friendly convention centres in the world is a big selling point.

· Paul ScullyThe New South Wales minister said the project could help attract more events to Sydney.

Combined with purchased renewable electricity, the rooftop system will allow the government-owned site to operate entirely on green energy. The project is expected to cut carbon emissions by up to 2,000 tonnes a year, which the government compares with the amount absorbed by about 100,000 mature trees.

Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully said the upgrade could attract more events to Sydney. He described the centre’s environmental performance as “a big selling point” and said the project showed how an urban community could use large roof spaces as part of the energy transition.

This is showing how, as an urban community, we can do our part in the rebuild of our energy system, where we're using large roof spaces.

· Paul ScullyScully described the rooftop project as an example of urban participation in the energy transition.

The centre already had solar panels, but older technology proved too heavy for some rooftop sections. Newer panels will allow ICC Sydney to produce about 300 percent more energy, according to Chris Jones of Capella Capital, the consortium that maintains the facility. Battery storage was rejected because it would take up too much space, leaving the grid to act as a “synthetic battery.”

This facility running at full capacity is a big drawer of electricity.

· Chris JonesThe Capella Capital asset-management head explained the venue’s high electricity demand.

With annual power bills reaching $1.8 million, the centre is also replacing equipment and thousands of lights to reduce consumption. The old panels removed this week will go to the Kindly Animal Sanctuary near Armidale, where they are expected to last another 10 to 15 years and help reduce the sanctuary’s energy bill while keeping its rescue animals warm.

They can reduce their energy bill and keep those rescue animals warm at the same time.

· Paul ScullyScully described the planned reuse of the old panels at an animal sanctuary.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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