The Melbourne Renewable Energy Project is a group of organisations including Yarra City Council who have combined their electricity demand to help build a new renewable energy plant in regional Victoria. 

Together our demand for sourcing renewable electricity will directly result in the construction of a new wind farm, owned and operated by Melbourne-based clean energy company Pacific Hydro with the power supplied by its retail arm, Tango Energy. 

This Australian first project has united 14 partners, including leading universities, cultural institutions, corporations and councils all working together to transform the way organisations purchase electricity in Australia and around the world. 

Built near Ararat and creating over 140 jobs during construction, the new wind farm will save over 96,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year from entering the atmosphere. 

Yarra has a proud history of environmental leadership, reflective of our community who expect us to take strong action to meet our urban sustainability challenges. With solar and energy retrofits already in place on most of Yarra Council's owned and operated buildings, including a 99.75kW solar system at Victoria Park, large scale renewable energy generation was the next logical progression for our carbon management journey. 

We have committed to sourcing 100% of our electricity through the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project for the next ten years. This includes all buildings owned and operated by Yarra Council including town halls, parks and street lighting. 

The project will help Yarra surpass our target of 60% emissions reduction from 2001 levels, with a total emissions reduction of approximately 75%. The long-term nature of the project, combined with the partner purchasing power, provides very competitive electricity rates and reduces long term risk.  

The project has received all relevant planning approvals and contracts are being finalised. 

Learn more about the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project.

Find out more about our other sustainability initiatives.