Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket for Climate have collaborated to install solar power at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Brisbane. This will save $50,000 in energy costs in the first year alone while reducing the amount of carbon generated by the facility by approximately 398 tonnes each year.
Based on current energy pricing, this converts close to $1 million in savings over the 20-year lifespan of the project and removing close to 8,000 tonnes of carbon.
The NCC is Australian cricket’s home of world-leading training and playing facilities accessible year-round that allow preparation in a variety of conditions, and can be used by international, national, and state teams, pathway programs and community cricket clubs.
Pat Cummins, Australian men’s captain said:
“I’m proud Cricket Australia has partnered with Cricket for Climate as part of a broader ambition to drive positive change across cricket.
“Cricket is a quintessential part of the Australian summer – however, our game is vulnerable to climate change.”
“The partnership with Cricket Australia, State Associations, as well as local cricket clubs and councils is fundamental to achieving meaningful progress.
“We are also fortunate to have incredible industry partners such as Longi, Solis and OSW, who have generously donated 150kW of solar and inverter infrastructure and Solar Choice for their tender management across our projects to date.”
“Through their generous donations, we’ve been able to install solar power to all club projects to date at zero cost to them. We’ve learned much in the initial phase of energy upgrades `across five clubs, and that the engagement from these clubs and their councils has been amazing.
“We are looking to make further impact at scale as we look to plan a second phase of our energy upgrade program. We also want to look beyond solar and batteries for clubs and develop a blueprint for what a sustainable club of the future looks like.
“This partnership with Cricket Australia provides us with real momentum to help us achieve this.”
James Allsopp, CA Executive Manager, Community and Capability joined Australian men’s captain Pat Cummins to launch the installation at the NCC today.
The system will provide a massive 285kW of power (nearly half of the NCC’s total energy requirements) and was made available through an initial provision of 60kW of solar panels (as well as mounting systems and inverters) through Cricket for Climate, with Cricket Australia investing $226,000 to provide the additional 220kW of capacity.
James Allsopp, CA Executive General Manager, Community and Capability said:
“We were delighted when Cricket for Climate approached us with an offer to provide the solar power to get the ball rolling on this project.
“We are really pleased Pat (Cummins) has taken a lead on this initiative just as he does on the field.
Cricket for Climate have already created tangible benefits for some local clubs and its great they have been able to extend this to the NCC through a collaboration with Cricket Australia.”
“Climate change is an issue for cricket, and we are in the initial stages of our journey toward improved sustainability and improving our environmental footprint.
“Projects such as this, alongside the development this year of our Environmental
Sustainability Action Plan that will outline our emissions baseline and our roadmap for reducing them will help us create some real momentum in this area.”