The Melbourne Market is moving closer to its goal of becoming energy self-sufficient with construction commencing on six new large-scale solar car park canopies.
The Melbourne Market Authority is investing $13 million into the project, which will see the six canopies house a huge 1.95 megawatt roof-top Solar PV System to support on-site energy demands.
The 4332 individual solar panels installed to form the car park canopy roof will save approximately 960 tonnes of CO2 emission per year, the equivalent of planting 28,660 trees.
Along with two other roof-top solar systems on the market site, the additional 2.2 hectares of the new solar canopy will bring the Melbourne Market's total renewable energy capacity to approximately 2.50 megawatts.
The canopies also have the capacity to harvest 8,200,000 litres of rainwater annually, reducing the site's reliance on water reserves.
Melbourne Market Authority chairman Peter Tuohey said the group was always looking for ways to reduce its environmental impact while providing logistical efficiencies for tenants and market users.
"The Melbourne Market is already a world-class facility with award-winning environmental credentials, and we're pleased to commence this project that will benefit our market users and aligns with the MMA's sustainability objectives," he said.
Victorian Agriculture minister Mary-Anne Thomas recently visited the site to mark the beginning of the construction.
"The Melbourne Market is a world-class facility with a crucial role in the marketing and distribution of Victoria's fresh produce across the state," she said.
"Our Agriculture Strategy envisions a sustainable, low-emissions industry and initiatives like the Melbourne Market's solar canopy project are a great example of this."
The solar canopies will add significant environmental benefits to the site, but Melbourne Market users will benefit from the canopies' primary purpose, providing additional undercover parking.
The canopies will create 100 undercover rigid truck parking bays and 200 loading bays.
Construction is due to begin this month and It is estimated the canopies will be completed by March 2022.
