The Minns Labor Government is leading the way on urban renewables and sustainability with the government owned International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney set to become home to the largest solar farm in any Central Business District in the Southern Hemisphere.
ICC Sydney has today revealed plans to expand its rooftop solar network across the Convention Centre, Exhibition Centre and Entertainment Centre.
Once installed the urban solar farm will be more than 18 400 square metres and able to generate 2.6 gigawatt hours (GWh) annually or enough energy to power around 300 to 400 average Australian homes for an entire year.
The extra power will enable ICC Sydney to be powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity obtained through a combination of the rooftop solar and renewable energy procurement.
This project will place ICC Sydney among an elite group of convention centres worldwide leading the use of renewable energy. Based on annual solar generation, ICC Sydney will become the fourth-largest solar-powered convention centre in the world and the largest outside the United States.
The extra renewable generation will help the ICC reduce emissions, cutting approximately 1,800 to 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, which is equivalent to the annual carbon absorption capacity of around 100,000 mature trees.
This is a great example of sustainable leadership from the Minns Labor Government showing how we can unlock greater renewable energy generation and use in urban areas by taking advantage of building rooftops.
This project will give ICC Sydney a business advantage as global event organisers place greater emphasis on reducing the carbon footprint of major events.
The ICC Sydney is already positioned as a global leader in sustainable events and venue operations and this project reinforced that, giving it a significant competitive edge in the global business events market.
The investment in rooftop solar for the ICC compliments the work being undertaken by the Minns Government to roll-out Australia’s first urban renewable energy zone in the Illawarra.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
“This is a great example of how we can unlock greater renewable energy generation and use in urban areas and power a vibrant city by taking advantage of building rooftops.
“Hosting the largest solar farm of any CBD in the Southern Hemisphere will help the ICC to reduce emissions and energy costs while also strengthening Sydney’s competitiveness in attracting major international conventions and events.
“This is another example of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to powering a more sustainable future for all of NSW.”
ICC Sydney Chief Executive Officer Adam Mather-Brown said:
“This investment represents another important milestone in ICC Sydney’s sustainability journey and reflects our commitment to leading environmental performance across the global convention and exhibition sector.
“The expanded solar network will allow us to generate significant renewable energy on-site while supporting our clients’ sustainability goals and helping reduce the carbon footprint of events hosted at ICC Sydney.
“As international event organisers increasingly prioritise sustainability in venue selection, this project further strengthens ICC Sydney’s position as one of the world’s leading sustainable convention, exhibition and entertainment centres.”
