Solar Farms: Future Fire Fighters!
ACT residents are concerned that the construction of solar farms might represent a fire hazard in the future. But according to experts, they have nothing to fear.
The solar farms will actually reduce the risk of fires compared to open grassland because there’s roughly one-third less grass.
Australian National University’s Andrew Blakers said “the risk of grass fires is very low, and the flammability is very low – the materials are glass, silicon, steel and aluminium and concrete – with a tiny little bit of plastic around each cell.”
Additional measures will be taken to ensure the safest outcome. Fire service crews will be expected to undertake on site familiarisation with any new commercial solar facility following construction.
The OneSun Capital Solar Farm near Uriarra Village will have 26,100 solar panels on current plans, the Mugga Lane Solar Park at Tuggeranong is set to have 53,000 and the Royalla Solar Farm on the Monaro Highway is planned to have 83,000 solar panels.
