CSIRO, the major scientific research organization of Australia has planned to adopt solar to power its operations in NSW, ACT, and Victoria through a 10-year energy agreement with Zen Energy, the Ross Garnaut-led retailer.

The long-term contract means that majority of electricity supply of CSIRO for its 26 diverse operations in these states with mainly daytime demand will derive from the Nevertire solar farm in NSW and Numurkah solar farm in Victoria.

The sites comprise the exemplary Parkes Observatory in regional NSW, the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong, and the Canberra Deep Space Communication Centre in Tidbinbilla, the site of main research in the fast response to COVID-19 worldwide.

It is believed to be the largest contract of its type instead of the Commonwealth Government agency. CSIRO confirms that it will split its electricity emission into half as a result of the agreement. CSIRO already has over 5MW of rooftop solar on its 10 different sites.

The head of business and infrastructure services of CSIRO, Dave Agnew stated that it is a very important move towards becoming a net-zero in their operations and in accordance with their wider remit to support Australia navigate to a low emissions future.

Agnew added that CSIRO being a global leader in sustainability research is dedicated to innovating science and technology that decreases emissions and the impact on the world’s climate change. CSIRO desires to be an enterprise that promotes and determines maintainable operations and practices that are constant with their science and innovation effect.

The important point here is that the organization is providing steep reductions in emissions by utilizing existing technologies, instead of ones recognized identified in the federal government’s much-criticized technology roadmap.

According to the agreement, Zen Energy and CSIRO will also explore opportunities to undertake cooperative renewable energy science projects

Garnaut claimed that this landmark contract determines that 100% of renewable energy can be extremely competitive in reliability and price. He claimed that the natural conditions of Australia are favorable to be a renewable energy superpower.

Source: https://reneweconomy.com.au/csiro-signs-up-for-100-per-cent-solar-power-with-garnauts-zen-energy-57212/