The world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney, delivered a significant boost for Sydney’s tourism and hospitality industries this year, at the same time providing invaluable support to regional jobs in NSW’s renewable energy sector.
Through a joint effort by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, Sydney Opera House, the GreenPower Program managed by the NSW Department of Industry and the Banksia Foundation, the environmental impact of this year’s event was further improved as a result of much of the grid electricity used being displaced with GreenPower sourced from accredited renewable energy power stations in Western Sydney and regional NSW.
In total, Destination NSW and Sydney Opera House purchased 170 megawatt hours of accredited renewable energy for the 18 day festival, which was attended by a record 1.7 million people.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said, “Vivid Sydney attracted record visitation in 2015 and expanded to new precincts, and at the same time the environmental impact of the festival was reduced through the use of GreenPower.”
“Destination NSW sourced GreenPower accredited renewable energy from four bioenergy generators across NSW, including in Albury, Awaba, Wyong and Eastern Creek, supporting industry and employment in these areas.”
Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said, “It was great knowing our Vivid Sydney light walk shone brightly for 18 days using GreenPower, ensuring the Festival supports a positive environmental message.”
Sydney Opera House also purchased GreenPower accredited renewable energy to displace the electricity used by the VividLIVE event.
GreenPower Program Manager Gary Eisner, said, “The collaboration between Destination NSW, Sydney Opera House and Resources and Energy is a shining example of how Government agencies can work together to benefit industry and support regional jobs.”
“We commend Destination NSW and Sydney Opera House on their proactive endeavours to reduce the event’s impact on the environment.”
The GreenPower sourced was used to displace the grid electricity powering the illuminations on the entire Light Walk and in Martin Place, as well as to displace the electricity usage of the entire VividLIVE component of the Festival, which was held at Sydney Opera House.
“We encourage other event organisers to consider the environmental impact of the events they stage, and to proactively minimise this impact," Mr Eisner said.
"GreenPowering events is a simple and effective way to reduce this impact, and we are keen to help facilitate the process with any other event organisers looking to increase the environmental stewardship of their activities.”