Tennis’ largest Grand Slam event, the Australian Open, is underway in Melbourne this month, powered by renewable electricity thanks to Victoria’s SEC.
Over 21 days in January, more than a million fans will flock to Melbourne Park to see the world’s top tennis players compete in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
While powerful serves and thrilling play dominate centre court, SEC’s renewable electricity will illuminate and broadcast the tournament to millions of viewers around the globe.
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Tennis Australia was the first major Australian sporting organisation to commit to the United Nations Sports for Climate Change Action Framework in 2019. Its climate action strategy includes a shift to 100% renewable electricity.
For the 2024 and 2025 tournaments, Tennis Australia acquired and surrendered over 3,500 renewable energy generation certificates to ensure the Open’s electricity consumption was backed by 100% renewable energy.
This year, the renewable electricity will be supplied by SEC.
“Grand Slam tennis tournaments, such as the Australian Open, consume significant volumes of electricity, for lighting, broadcast infrastructure, climate control and stadium operations,” SEC general manager, customer Suzie Retschko said.
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“For the Australian Open, Melbourne Park precinct and all our customers, we match their electricity usage with renewable energy certificates generated by Victorian renewable energy sources, including our own renewable energy projects, and solar farms and wind farms across the state.
“This includes Berrybank Wind Farm, Dundonnell Wind Farm, Winton Solar Farm, Glenrowan Solar Farm and Bulgana Green Power Hub.”
Melbourne Park also generates its own renewable energy, with 370 solar panels providing around 160,000kWh of electricity a year. Smart solar lighting is used throughout the precinct.
