Melbourne’s solar trams
24 May 2015 by News Desk
Melbourne’s entire tram network could be powered by solar energy if the government agrees to the proposal.
The new electric trams would be powered by energy generated at two new solar farms near Swan Hill and Mildura. The two solar farms would generate 80 gigawatt-hours of electricity a year, about the same amount used by Melbourne’s tram network, which is the world’s largest.
Under the proposal the government would back the project by signing Public Transport Victoria (PTV) up to a power purchase agreement with the solar farms, creating a reliable revenue source alongside the renewable energy target.
The Australian Solar Group say the project has been designed to ensure the cost of tram tickets would not rise, nor would it add to PTV’s power bill. It would cut 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year from running trams and give the city an obvious global selling point
Transport is responsible for 17 per cent of Australia’s total emissions, but this only accounts for vehicles with combustion engines such as the average family car.
