Yesterday was the official opening of the viewing platform for the Broken Hill Solar Plant.

The viewing platform was designed by recognised Birrell Scholar and Architect, Timothy Bauer, who participated in the global design competition facilitated by AGL and the Broken Hill Art Exchange.

His design is based on the concept of earth and sky - the structure represents the earth as Broken Hill’s heritage as a rich mining community; and the sky as the possibility of transitioning to an enlightened future. The dynamic façade produces an ever-changing interplay of light and shadow as a poetic notion of sunlight, and as the viewer moves up the ramped pathway, a multitude of perspectives offer connection with the red earth and boundless sky surrounding the vast expanse of the solar installation.

Timothy’s design not only makes a valuable and lasting contribution to the artistic and cultural landscape of Broken Hill, but also helps to showcase the importance of renewables in the NSW energy mix.”

The 140-hectare 53 MW solar plant, owned by the Powering Australian Renewables Fund and operated by AGL, produces enough renewable energy to power 22,000 average Australian homes.