Communication - Press

Melbourne's tram network will soon be powered by Neoen's Victorian solar farm

Powered by the sun: Melbourne's trams will be run off power generated by a giant solar farm at Numurkah.

With a population of fewer than 5,000 people, Numurkah packs a powerful punch. 

The Numurkah Solar Farm will generate 255 GWh of emission-free, clean, competitive renewable energy per annum to power key infrastructure such as the Melbourne tram network and Laverton steel works. It will utilise more than 300,000 panels spread across 500 hectares once used for grazing cattle and sheep to supply 100 per cent renewable energy to offset the tram network.

The carbon emission reduction generated by the farm is the equivalent of taking 75,000 cars off the road or planting 390,000 trees, according to the Victorian Government.

The facility, which will generate approximately 255,000 megawatt hours of electricity into the national grid each year, received funding for development under the Victorian Government's Solar Trams initiative — part of the state's plan to reduce carbon emissions.

"The solar farm will play an important role in supporting the transformation of our energy system towards clean, renewable energy and reaching our renewable energy target," Ms D'Ambrosio said.
 

Farm built in record time

Neoen Australia managing director Louis de Sambucy said the farm had a lifespan of up to 30 years.

"It's a great achievement and has been done in record time — with the community we want to make the best use of the wind and solar resources," Mr Sambucy said.

"This [solar farm] is extremely efficient and is already providing above expectations, so it's in the top range in terms of size and efficiency."

The Government has committed to renewable energy targets of 25 per cent by 2020, and 40 per cent by 2025.

Read Neoen's full press release.

Source: https://www.neoen.com/var/fichiers/190719-numurkah-full-scale-operations.pdf