Solar powers Australia’s home of sport
EnergyAustralia has installed over 220 solar panels at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to boost sustainability at the iconic grounds.
Installed in November 2020, the solar panels, which are located along the roofline of the Northern Stand, will be used to help power the stadium’s innovative water recycling facility – resulting in a truly sustainable initiative.
Housed in Yarra Park, the water recycling facility treats sewage from the City of Melbourne, transforming it into Class A water which is used to maintain the heritage-listed parkland during the summer months, as well as for toilet flushing and cleaning inside the MCG.
Any excess power generated by the solar panels will be utilised within the venue, helping sustainably run everything from pie warmers to lighting.
Peter Wearne, General Manager – Facilities of the Melbourne Cricket Club, which manages the MCG, said the club was committed to operating the stadium in an environmentally responsible manner.
“Sustainability is embedded into the operation of the stadium, from strict waste management programs, water recycling and monitoring of our energy consumption, to being a part of local and global action groups committed to furthering environmental principles,” Mr Wearne said.
“The use of solar power is an exciting next step for the stadium and we are looking forward to seeing how the panels perform across the coming summer and beyond.”
“Partnering with EnergyAustralia on this project has been hugely beneficial – they are very experienced in this space and could see what we were trying to achieve and helped us work out what was feasible.”
Vaughan Furniss, EnergyAustralia Head of Commercial and Industrial, said, “We’re extremely proud to partner with the MCC, who, like us, are committed to sustainability.
“Our partnership is not just revolutionising the way energy is used at the MCG but there is also great potential to apply the technology we’ve developed for this project to help other venues and businesses in Victoria to use energy in a more efficient, green and cost-effective way.
“It’s a great project to be using renewable electricity to power the water recycling plant to produce ‘greener than green water’.
“It’s super exciting and satisfying working with the MCC to address some of these big energy challenges.”
EnergyAustralia is the Official Energy Partner of the MCG.
The partnership commenced in 2016 with EnergyAustralia supplying electricity to the MCG as well as supporting a range of environmental sustainability initiatives across the precinct, including the supply and installation of 12 solar powered lights and security cameras in Yarra Park in 2019 to enhance the safety and amenity for the park users.
EnergyAustralia also supported the MCG in achieving an Australian first in 2018, with the stadium going carbon neutral for the month of September.
Source : utilitymagazine
