The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP: Defence’s largest solar farm switched on in the Northern Territory

The Albanese Government is backing Defence’s transition to cleaner energy and stronger energy resilience with the delivery of Defence’s largest solar farm.

The 10-megawatt solar farm made up of over 27,000 solar panels will supply up to 40 per cent of the energy needs of Robertson Barracks in Darwin.

While this project makes our Defence facilities more self-reliant, it also has wider benefit with excess solar power from the project to be fed into the Darwin grid, supplying cheap, renewable energy to households and businesses.

The project involves a power purchase agreement, generating savings on electricity costs and accelerating the transition to clean energy. 

The project created hundreds of jobs in Darwin and opportunities for local trades as part of the $64 million Defence Renewable Energy and Energy Security Program.

The delivery of Defence’s second solar project in the Northern Territory follows the launch of a 3.2-megawatt solar farm at RAAF Base Darwin in January this year.

The investment at Robertson Barracks follows the $24 million announced earlier this year for critical infrastructure upgrades to Robertson Barracks and Howard Springs South.

Quotes attributable to the Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP:  

 “Defence is playing its role in accelerating the transition to clean energy, increasing resilience and reducing emissions across Defence bases.

“The Robertson Barracks solar farm shows how Defence is partnering with industry to deliver renewable energy, improving energy security and reducing emissions across the Defence estate.

“The Defence estate plays a critical role in supporting ADF operational readiness and having a safe and maintained estate is integral to capability and supporting ADF members who live, work and train on base.”