One of Australia’s largest solar farms installed at Melbourne Airport
The solar farm is being used to fuel the operations of all four terminals at the international airport.
The panels are expected to generate nearly 15 per cent of the airport’s annual electricity consumption and reduce power costs.
Melbourne Airport’s Chief of Ground Transport Jai McDermott said the 12-megawatt farm was part of the airport’s plan to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by end of 2025.
Airport management capitalised on flight cancellations caused by COVID-19 to install the 30,000 solar panels near the north-south runway.
“So while the airport was was definitely quiet on most days through the pandemic, we were able to crack on with a great project,” Mr McDermott said.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio has praised the introduction of the farm.
“This very much fits in with our government’s own ambitions when it comes to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, and importantly, halving our emissions by 2030,” she said.
“It shows what you can achieve when you make a decision, you set yourself clear ambition and you take actions that can be seen and replicated.”
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Australia’s airlines have committed to net zero by 2050.