Sydeny, Australia – ICC Sydney will be home to the first community-funded solar energy project of its kind in the country, allowing members of the public to to buy shares in a social venture that will own the building’s solar array.

One of Australia’s largest solar arrays within a Central Business District is being built on the roof of ICC Sydney to generate power for the venue. Sydney Renewable Power Company is the social venture that will own the array.

In a statement, ICC Sydney Chief Executive Officer Geoff Donaghy said the initiative reflected the approach the management team would take once the venue was operational in late 2016.

Donaghy is also President of the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC), which has a membership base covering more than 50 countries. Under construction and opening in December 2016, ICC Sydney is being developed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the New South Wales Government and Darling Harbour Live (comprising Lend Lease, HOSTPLUS, Capella Capital, AEG Ogden and Spotless). Lend Lease, who is designing and constructing the venue and associated public realm and connections, will install a solar array supplied by Canadian Solar Inc. onto the roofs of the theatre and convention buildings.