One of Sydney’s most anticipated projects, Western Sydney International Airport, plans to have 100 per cent renewable electricity under a seven-year Electricity Supply Agreement with CleanPeak Energy.
As part of the partnership, CleanPeak will invest more than $50 million to develop 9MWp of new rooftop solar and a 30MW/120MWh Battery Energy Storage System. Combined with Western Sydney International Airport’s (WSI) existing 4.5MWp rooftop solar installation, the system will generate more than 18GWh of on-site renewable electricity each year.
CleanPeak will also manage the airport’s embedded electricity network, supplying renewable power to WSI as well as tenants and operators across the precinct.
The company began supplying renewable electricity to the airport on May 1, 2026 through a combination of on-site solar generation, battery storage and electricity from its solar farm portfolio.
WSI’s electricity demand is expected to increase from around 40GWh annually to approximately 120GWh within the next four to five years as the airport expands. CleanPeak said it will meet this growing demand by adding new solar farms across New South Wales while continuing to optimise the airport’s integrated energy system.
The project includes leasing, operating and maintaining WSI’s existing 4.5MWp rooftop solar installation, constructing an additional 9MWp of rooftop solar across the airport precinct, delivering the 30MW/120MWh BESS in 2027, and operating the embedded network to distribute electricity across the site.
Once fully operational, the airport is expected to consume more than 100GWh of electricity annually, all supplied from renewable sources through a combination of on-site generation and CleanPeak’s solar farm portfolio. The arrangement is expected to avoid approximately 64,000 tonnes of CO₂-e emissions each year.
CleanPeak Energy CEO Philip Graham said the project demonstrated how critical infrastructure could transition to renewable energy while maintaining reliability.
“This project is about unlocking what’s possible when large-scale energy infrastructure is designed, financed and operated as an integrated energy system to power critical assets like airports without compromising performance,” he said.
WSI CEO Simon Hickey said the partnership supported the airport’s sustainability objectives and would help achieve its net zero scope 1 and 2 emissions targets.
“The energy system they will manage represents a landmark commitment to achieving net zero scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions for WSI, showcasing the low carbon future airports can champion as pivotal pieces of major infrastructure,” he said.
