Melbourne Airport is committed to environmental sustainability and was the first major Australian airport to commit to a target of net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025.

The use of renewable energy will play a key role in achieving this target. We have a goal of meeting half of our energy needs through on-site solar generation by 2030.

In 2021, we started operating  our first solar farm, a 14-megawatt (MW) facility at Oaklands Junction under the approach to the north-south runway. The solar farm is 16 hectares in size and is the largest solar installation at any airport in Australia.

In addition, all new commercial developments in our business park are structurally read for solar to be installed on the rooftop.

In 2023 we commenced construction on a second solar farm. The North Airfield solar farm will produce 7.5 megawatts of energy and will sit adjacent to our existing Oaklands Junction solar farm on the corner of Sunbury Road and Oaklands Drive. It will comprise around 20,000 solar panels.  

The two solar farms together will cover an area about the size of 40 soccer pitches.

When the second solar farm is completed, the two will generate 34 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy per annum and, together, provide approximately 40% of the airport’s total energy consumption needs. This is enough energy to power terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Melbourne Airport is the first and only airport in Australia to become a GreenPower® approved provider. This means we can supply GreenPower® accredited solar power generated on site to retailers, tenants and partners on the Melbourne Airport property. 

Learn more about Melbourne Airport's GreenPower® Network powered by homegrown energy here.