Renewable Organics Networks

Barwon Water is partnering with major businesses and local councils on two Renewable Organics Networks (RONs).

These projects will leverage existing water and sewerage infrastructure to reduce the amount of organic waste that goes to landfill, create clean renewable energy, reduce costs, generate jobs and drive economic growth in the region.

Regional Renewable Organics Network

Barwon Water has drawn on its 110-year knowledge of managing water and wastewater to partner with local councils to transform organic waste into valuable resources.

The Regional Renewable Organics Network (Regional RON) would process 40,000 tonnes of household, commercial and industrial organic waste each year, diverting waste from landfill and concentrating it into 8,000 tonnes of products that improve soil quality for agricultural uses, as well as generating renewable energy.

We are proposing to establish the facility at our Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant in Connewarre.

See also: Regional Renewable Organics Network is a step closer, 8 October 2021

Colac Renewable Organics Network

The Colac Renewable Organics Network (Colac RON) is helping our water reclamation plant in Colac run on clean, green and low-cost energy.

We are working with the Colac-based Australian Lamb Company to take its organic trade waste and convert it into renewable electricity.

The next step is to accept waste from Bulla Dairy Foods to produce a total of 5.5 gigawatt hours of energy per year – enough to completely power the Colac plant.

How does it work?

The solid and liquid waste is added to a large covered pond where natural bacteria breaks down the waste and transforms it into biogas that is captured and converted into renewable energy.

Solid waste leftovers from the process are converted into valuable soil enhancers that improve soil conditions for agricultural purposes.

Benefits

• reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 6,300 tonnes per year
• produces 5.5 gigawatt hours of clean, green, low-cost energy each year
• reduces the high energy cost of treating sewage and wastewater, helping to keep Barwon Water customers’ bills affordable
• creates 17 construction jobs and 45 ongoing jobs
• limits landfill and reduces our carbon footprint.

By 2023, in an Australian first, the network will produce hot water to help reduce the Australian Lamb Company’s natural gas consumption which is currently the same as 350 Colac households, 21.4 terajoules annually.

These environmental benefits and lower energy costs help us keep our customers’ bills affordable and will help us deliver our commitment to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2025 and zero net emissions by 2030.