SEC aces Australian Open with 100% renewable electricity on centre court

The Australian Open powers into Melbourne this month, transforming the Melbourne Park precinct into a festival of sport and entertainment.

Over 21 days in January, more than a million fans will flock to the precinct to see the world's top tennis players compete in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.

But while powerful serves and thrilling play dominate centre court, SEC's renewable electricity will illuminate and broadcast the tournament to millions of viewers around the globe.

As Victoria's government-owned renewable electricity company, SEC powers some of the state's iconic and best-loved places, including Flinders Street Station, Melbourne Museum, the NGV and Melbourne Park – home of the Australian Open.

Tennis Australia was the first major Australian sporting organisation to commit to the United Nations Sports for Climate Change Action Framework in 2019. Its climate action strategy includes a shift to 100% renewable electricity.

For the 2024 and 2025 tournaments, Tennis Australia acquired and surrendered over 3,500 renewable energy generation certificates to ensure the Open's electricity consumption was backed by 100% renewable energy.

This year, the renewable electricity will be supplied by SEC.

"Grand Slam tennis tournaments, such as the Australian Open, consume significant volumes of electricity, for lighting, broadcast infrastructure, climate control and stadium operations," SEC General Manager, Customer, Suzie Retschko, said.

"For the Australian Open, Melbourne Park precinct and all our customers, we match their electricity usage with renewable energy certificates generated by Victorian renewable energy sources, including our own renewable energy projects, and solar farms and wind farms across the state," Suzie said.

"This includes Berrybank Wind Farm, Dundonnell Wind Farm, Winton Solar Farm, Glenrowan Solar Farm and Bulgana Green Power Hub.”

Matthew Nicholas, Tennis Australia’s Director of Sustainability said renewable energy opportunities are a cornerstone of Tennis Australia's climate action efforts.

“We are proud that Melbourne's own Australian Open is again backed by Victorian-generated renewables.”

Melbourne Park also generates its own renewable energy, with 370 solar panels providing around 160,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year. Smart solar lighting is used throughout the precinct.

Melbourne Park CEO John Harnden said events such as the Australian Open allowed the precinct to showcase Victoria's climate leadership.

"Melbourne Park's 100% renewable SEC retail arrangement helps us work together with our commercial partners and global touring artists to deliver on these shared goals," he said.

And if you catch public transport to the Open, there's a good chance it will be powered by SEC, too! SEC also supplies much of the state's electrified transport network, powering more than 350 million train and tram trips each year.