Bendigo Tramways flicked the switch to activate newly-installed solar panels on the roof of its workshop on Wednesday.
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The new solar panels are expected to provide 40 per cent of Bendigo Tramways’ power.
Bendigo Heritage Attractions chairman Wayne Gregson said he believed Bendigo’s now solar-powered tram fleet was one of the first in the world.
“The future is the brightest it has been in 20 years. We have $55,000 worth of panels and can now generate most of own power,” he said.
Community Foundation for Central Victoria deputy chairwoman Claire Flanagan-Smith said the tramways’ solar project had been a long time coming.
“Bendigo Heritage Attractions and Bendigo Sustainability Group came in with an idea, looked at ways to finance it and brought to the Community Foundation,” she said.
“Trams run on electricity and with the workshop, there is a big energy demand. It is important for them to reduce that and subsidise it with renewable energy.”