Zero emissions program shortlisted for sustainability award
16 Sep 2019
Our zero emissions program is a finalist in this year’s Victorian Premier’s Sustainability Awards.
We’ve pledged to achieve 100% of our electricity use from renewables by 2025, and slash our greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2030. And we’re well on the way, thanks largely to a series of industry-leading solar projects.
Reducing our grid electricity use drives down our operating costs, which helps us keep downward pressure on water bills.
Black Rock solar farm
In June this year, we tripled the size of our flagship solar farm at the Black Rock water reclamation plant in Connewarre, making it the largest of its kind in the Australian water industry.
The solar farm boasts around 8,100 solar panels, taking its capacity from one to three megawatts.
The Black Rock plant treats the majority of our region’s sewage and uses about 35 megawatt hours daily, roughly seven times more energy than a typical household uses in a whole year!
The solar farm is projected to meet 35% of the plant’s annual energy needs, with clean renewable, solar power. Over a year, operation of the solar farm is expected to generate 4,400 megawatt hours, and eliminate 4,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
Salt Torquay solar farm
In late 2018, Barwon Water switched on a 250-kilowatt solar array in Torquay – the largest solar facility on the Surf Coast.
The array complements Barwon Water’s neighbouring residential development, Salt Torquay – the first in the region to achieve a 7.5-star energy efficiency rating.
Houses in the ground-breaking urban development will feature a showcase of innovate, sustainable eco-features including solar cells, battery storage, electric car charging points and smart water meters using internet-of-things technology.
Wurdee Boluc solar array and battery storage
The Torquay solar array is soon to be overtaken as the largest on the Surf Coast by a 300-kilowatt solar farm at Barwon Water’s Wurdee Boluc water treatment plant, south of Winchelsea.
The Wurdee Boluc solar array will also include a 200-kilowatt hour battery installation, meaning solar energy captured during the day can be stored and used at night as the water treatment facility operates 24 hours a day.
Zero Emissions Water renewable power purchase agreement
In April 2019, Barwon Water announced a new energy partnership with 12 other leading Victorian water corporations to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintain affordable water bills for customers.
The water corporations will together purchase 78 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity annually from the Kiamal solar farm in north-west Victoria under a new umbrella organization: Zero Emissions Water.
Purchasing energy as a collective means the water corporations can procure energy at a cheaper rate, which will help maintain affordable prices for customers.
The deal is the first of its kind in the Australian water industry and will allow Barwon Water to purchase up to 30% of its annual energy needs, and is expected to save between $50,000 and $100,000 a year.
