Released 25/07/2017
Officially opening today, Mugga Lane Solar Park on Canberra’s ‘solar highway’ will power around 3,000 Canberra homes with 48,000 panels and serve as a community hub, Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Shane Rattenbury, said.
“The opening of Mugga Lane Solar Park is another significant milestone in the ACT’s progress towards 100% renewable electricity by 2020 and our goal of producing zero net greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050.
“Combined with the newly opened Williamsdale solar farm just down the road, and the Mt Majura and Royalla solar farms, thenumber of panels that make up the ‘solar highway’ from Majura Parkway in the north to Monaro Highway in the south is now a massive 174,340.
Developed by Maoneng Australia, the Mugga Lane Solar Park covers an area of 45 hectares and will have close links to the community.
“We hope Mugga Lane will become something of a ‘hub’ to help ongoing efforts to promote renewable energy initiatives.”
The site has already hosted a number of school and university visits and will work closely with the ANU. The park managers are also planning to graze sheep around the panels and establish an on-site community garden.
“In case the Federal Government’s fiction hasn’t been debunked enough, the body of evidence supporting the business case, as well as environmental case, for facilities like Mugga Lane and the transition to renewables is growing stronger week by week.
Last week’s State of Solar report from the Climate Council found that solar power is now more affordable than new fossil fuel and nuclear power, with costs diving over the last five years. The report says solar costs have dropped 58% in five years and are expected to continue to fall by a further 40-70% by 2040.
A new study from the Australian National University just this week suggests that a 100% renewable electricity grid, with 90% of power coming from wind and solar backed by pumped hydro, will be a significantly cheaper future option than a coal or gas-fired network in Australia.
“The recent experience of the ACT provides the final nail in the coal coffin. Far from being to blame for electricity supply problems during the heatwave last month, renewables maintained supply while big fossil fuel plants failed in the heat.
“As a result of the ACT Government’s clever contractual arrangements with renewable generators, three of our solar farms including Mugga Lane paid $840,000 to the ACT, creating future savings on the electricity bills of Canberrans.”
- Statement ends -
Shane Rattenbury, MLA | Media Releases
Media Contacts
| Name | Phone | Mobile | |
|---|---|---|---|
Jarrah Aguera |
(02) 6205 4115 |
0481 035 764 |