Kris Croft: Fulton Hogan powers up renewable energy deal

Fulton Hogan has joined several prominent Melbourne businesses and universities in securing a multi-million-dollar deal to power our Victorian operations using renewable wind energy.

The second Melbourne Renewable Energy Project (MREP2) purchasing group of seven large energy users includes Fulton Hogan, Citywide Asphalt Group (a Citywide and Fulton Hogan Joint venture), RMIT University, Deakin University, Cbus Property, ISPT and Mondelez International.

The new MREP2 deal means 14 shopping centres, nine office buildings, seven educational campuses, and manufacturing facilities – including five Fulton Hogan asphalt and blending facilities and quarries at Tylden and Tynong – will be powered by renewable wind energy. It will result in a reduction of greenhouse gas pollution by 123,000 tonnes a year, that’s the equivalent of taking more than 28,000 cars off the road every year.

“This project will enable Fulton Hogan to power all of our quarries, asphalt plants and blending facilities across Victoria with renewable, carbon neutral electricity,” said Matthew MacMahon, CEO Fulton Hogan Infrastructure Services.

“More than 7,000t of carbon will be removed from the environmental footprint of the products we manufacture, and the roads and infrastructure we build across the state.”

The purchasing agreement starts next month and most of the wind power will be produced at the Yaloak South Wind Farm near Ballan, with the remaining energy coming from other wind farm projects in regional Victoria.

City of Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood said MREP1 and MREP2 represented the equivalent of a five per cent reduction in the city’s emissions and a tangible shift towards renewable energy in the national grid.

“Renewable energy investments can and should play a significant role in supporting our economic recovery from COVID-19,” Cr Wood said.

“The purchase of renewable energy certainly has a positive environmental impact, but it also makes economic sense. We know the energy market can fluctuate a lot. The MREP2 project allows the buying group to lock in price certainty.

“It’s also a significant step towards our goal for all of Melbourne to be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.”