PRESS RELEASE
Barwon Water’s zero emissions program is a finalist in this year’s Victorian Premier’s Sustainability Awards.
Barwon Water – Victoria’s largest regional water corporation – has pledged to achieve 100 per cent of its electricity use from renewable sources by 2025, and slash its net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2030.
The corporation is well on the way, thanks largely to a series of industry-leading solar projects.
Barwon Water Managing Director Tracey Slatter said the initiatives will dramatically reduce grid electricity consumption, as well as keeping customers’ bills low.
“Reducing our grid electricity use drives down our operating costs, which helps us keep downward pressure on water bills,” Ms Slatter said.
Black Rock solar farm
In June this year, Barwon Water tripled the size of its 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 per cent of the plant’s annual energy needs, with clean renewable, solar power. During sunny periods, it’s capable of supplying all of the plant’s energy needs, with excess energy fed into the grid and netting off consumption at other sites.
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.
“Treating sewage is an energy-intensive process and a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Investing in renewable energy means we’re becoming more self-sufficient and reducing our impact on the environment,” Ms Slatter said.
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; the water treatment facility operates 24 hours a day.
The Wurdee Boluc solar array and battery storage project is expected to be completed next month.
“Barwon Water is an environmental business,” said Ms Slatter. “Developing renewable sources of energy to cut emissions is critical for us because our ability to deliver safe, reliable and affordable water depends on a stable climate.”
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 (ZEW).
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 per cent of its annual energy needs.
Ms Slatter said costs avoided through the partnership would be passed down to customers, via their water bills. “We expect to save about $50,000 to $100,000 in energy costs each year, with operational cost savings of up to $1.7 million over the life of the project,” Ms Slatter said.
Victorian Premier’s Sustainability Awards: background
The Premier’s Sustainability Awards, now in its 17th year, recognise and celebrate Victorians who are leading the way to a sustainable future.
Barwon Water is one of three finalists in the ‘government’ award category, and one of 33 finalists overall.
The finalists were announced on 9 September by Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio,
The Awards presentation will be held on 10 October 2019 in Melbourne.
