ICC Sydney is set to become home to what the NSW Government says will be the largest solar farm in a central business district in the Southern Hemisphere, under plans to expand rooftop solar generation across its convention, exhibition and entertainment facilities.
In a news release, the NSW Government said that ICC Sydney would expand its rooftop solar network across the Convention Centre, Exhibition Centre and Entertainment Centre, creating an urban solar farm covering more than 18,400 square metres.
Once installed, the expanded network is expected to generate 2.6 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, which the government said would be enough to power around 300 to 400 average Australian homes for a year.
The additional generation is expected to support ICC Sydney in using 100 per cent renewable electricity through a combination of on-site rooftop solar and renewable energy procurement.
NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the project demonstrated how existing buildings could be used to increase renewable energy generation in urban areas.
“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,” Scully said.
The government said the expanded solar network would reduce ICC Sydney’s emissions by approximately 1,800 to 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. Based on annual solar generation, it said ICC Sydney would become the fourth-largest solar-powered convention centre globally and the largest outside the United States.
Scully said the project could also support the venue’s ability to attract major international events.
“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,” he said.
ICC Sydney chief executive officer Adam Mather-Brown said the investment represented another step in the venue’s sustainability efforts.
“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,” Mather-Brown said.
He said the expanded solar network would allow the venue to generate more renewable energy on-site while supporting sustainability objectives for events held at the centre.
The NSW Government said the project would complement its work on Australia’s first urban renewable energy zone in the Illawarra and could provide a business advantage as international event organisers increasingly consider sustainability when selecting venues.
