Yarra Trams harnesses the power of the sun

We're proud to be building a more sustainable Melbourne.

We recently flicked the switch on nearly 100 kilowatts of solar panels installed on the roof of Southbank Depot, the first of seven tram depots to have renewables installed on-site. The 200-panel array will help power ongoing depot operations, as well as feed into the network when excess power is produced.

Installed with funding support from the Victorian Government’s Greener Government Buildings program, the seven depots will collectively produce more than 550 megawatt hours of power annually, that will help power depot operations and keep the network running. In total the new solar panels are expected to cut CO2 emissions by up to 350 tonnes and save approximately $370,000 on energy costs each year.

We are also installing skylights and energy efficient LED lighting in five depots across the network, a move that is expected to reduce emissions by a further 700 tonnes a year.

This is not Yarra Trams’ and the Victorian Government’s first investment in renewable power for the tram network, with all of Melbourne’s trams powered by electricity fully offset by solar-generated power produced by two solar farms in the state’s north.

Pictured is our Chief Executive Julien Dehornoy inspecting the panels last week.