ICC Sydney to become home to Southern Hemisphere’s largest CBD solar farm

ICC Sydney is set to expand its rooftop solar network across its convention, exhibition and entertainment facilities, with the project expected to create the largest solar farm of its kind in a Central Business District in the Southern Hemisphere.

The NSW Government-owned venue has announced plans to install additional solar panels across the rooftops of the International Convention Centre Sydney precinct.

Once completed, the expanded solar network will cover more than 18,400 square metres and is expected to generate about 2.6 gigawatt hours of electricity each year. According to the NSW Government, that is enough energy to power the equivalent of around 300 to 400 average Australian homes for a year.

The additional generation will contribute to ICC Sydney being powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity through a combination of its rooftop solar generation and renewable energy procurement.

The project is expected to reduce the venue’s carbon dioxide emissions by about 1,800 to 2,000 tonnes each year. The government compares that reduction with the annual carbon absorption capacity of around 100,000 mature trees.

The expansion is part of broader efforts to increase renewable energy generation in urban areas, where available rooftop space can provide an alternative to developing new energy infrastructure on undeveloped land.

NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully said the project demonstrated how existing buildings could be used to generate more renewable energy within cities.

“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,” Scully said.

The project is also being positioned as a way for ICC Sydney to respond to growing demand from international event organisers for venues with stronger sustainability credentials.

ICC Sydney chief executive officer Adam Mather-Brown 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.

“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,” Mather-Brown said.

Based on its projected annual solar generation, the NSW Government says ICC Sydney will become the fourth-largest solar-powered convention centre in the world and the largest outside the United States.

The rooftop project complements the NSW Government’s broader renewable energy initiatives, including work towards an urban renewable energy zone in the Illawarra.

The expansion also comes as major venues and the business events industry face increasing pressure to reduce emissions associated with large-scale conferences, exhibitions and entertainment events. For ICC Sydney, the additional renewable generation is expected to reduce reliance on externally sourced electricity while adding to the venue’s existing sustainability measures.

The project will span the Convention Centre, Exhibition Centre and Entertainment Centre, making use of the precinct’s existing rooftop space rather than requiring a separate solar farm site.