When the installation is finished, the site will be the largest solar farm in any central business district in the Southern Hemisphere.

The new panels are expected to generate enough electricity to power up to 400 homes, and, together with purchased renewable electricity, will allow the government‑owned venue to run entirely on green power.

According to the government, the farm will cut carbon emissions by up to 2,000 tonnes a year – an amount comparable to the carbon absorbed by a forest of about 100,000 mature trees.

The panels are lighter than the older units that were previously on the roof, so the ICC can produce roughly 300 % more energy than before, a benefit highlighted by Chris Jones, head of asset management at Capella Capital.

Battery storage was ruled out because of space constraints; instead, the electricity grid will act as a “synthetic battery,” Jones explained.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the upgrade will make the venue more attractive for events and demonstrated how an urban community can use large roof spaces to help rebuild the energy system.