Melbourne's tram network to be solar-powered by end of 2018
A new solar plant built in Australia's Victoria region will power Melbourne's trams by the end of 2018, according to Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio. She said tenders for the 75MW scheme would be released early this year, and when completed, 35 MW would be used to power the trams, with the rest funnelled to the grid. D'Ambrosio declined to reveal budget figures, but said the project would create 300 jobs and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions in the city by 80,000 tonnes. Critics argued the scheme would not ease domestic energy bills and was just a "media stunt".

Melbourne's trams network will soon be powered by the first large-scale solar plant to be built in Victoria.

The solar plant, which will be completed by the end of 2018, is expected to be located in Victoria's north-west.

The state government announced on Thursday that the solar plant would produce 75 megawatts of power, with about half of that production to be linked to the tram network.

Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D'Ambrosio said the government would use its purchasing power as a "large energy consumer" to boost investment in renewables.