Anthony Roberts
Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy
Mark Speakman
Minister for the Environment
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 23 September 2015
THE ILLAWARRA HOME TO AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST
SINGLE-BUILDING ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEM
Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy, Anthony Roberts, Minister for the
Environment, Mark Speakman and Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and
South Coast, Gareth Ward, today celebrated the success of Australia’s largest single
rooftop solar system with a tour of the facility on the NSW South Coast.
Installed on the rooftop of the Stockland Shellharbour Shopping Centre in the
Illawarra, the system comprises almost 4,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels (with a
total capacity of 1.2 megawatts) and covers a surface area of more than 7,500
square metres, which is bigger than a standard football field.
Mr Roberts commended Stockland and the Shellharbour community for supporting a
solar project that can generate enough electricity to power 280 homes.
“NSW is leading the nation in commercial solar, with more than 8,800 systems and
around 35 per cent of Australia’s renewable energy companies based here,” Mr
Roberts said.
“Stockland invested more than $2 million in the project which also generated more
than 50 jobs during construction, with close to half of the contractors from the
Illawarra area.”
Mr Speakman said the share of electricity generation from wind, solar and bioenergy
has more than doubled over the past four years.
“More than 10 per cent of NSW’s electricity generation comes from renewable
energy sources, supporting lower energy costs while providing employment and
investment particularly in regional communities.
“This project is an important step for renewable energy in NSW, bringing with it
environmental benefits, new jobs and a strong, clean energy sector.”
Mr Ward said: “I congratulate Stockland for investing in renewable energy for its
Shellharbour centre and embracing the benefits in cost savings and employment,
which flow into the Illawarra.”
The Stockland Shellharbour solar system, switched on in May this year, has already
generated more than 400,000 kWh of energy for the centre, with the system on track
to meet its target of 1.74 million kWh per year.
*Photo L to R: Minister Speakman/ Minister Roberts/ John Schroder,
Group Executive & CEO Commercial Property at Stockland/ Gareth Ward MP.