100% renewable energy just around the corner for Coliban Water
The completion of a new 302-kilowatt solar array at the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant is another significant step in Coliban Water’s transition to 100% renewable energy in mid-2025.
General Manager Water and Climate Strategy, Adam Crameri, said the achievement was an important one as the organisation strives to implement more sustainable and efficient operating practices.
“Sewage treatment is a big energy user, so we have focused for some time on the steps we can take to reduce our reliance on energy from the grid, including the installation of solar.
“Coupled with other investments in plant and equipment upgrades across our region, our investment in solar is paying dividends for customers by helping us manage energy costs and deliver greater energy security. It is also a key part of our contribution toward industry-wide net zero carbon emission targets,” Mr Crameri explained.
The Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant is now home to an additional 302-kilowatt solar array, the latest in a raft of upgrades at the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant.
“There are now 760 ground-mounted solar panels operating in Kyneton, reducing carbon emissions by enough to remove 125 cars permanently from our roads every year. On-site solar capacity is now 400 kilowatts, after a 100-kilowatt system was completed in early 2024,” Mr Crameri said.
“We also operate solar panels at sites in Bendigo, Bridgewater, Leitchville, Pyramid Hill, and Wedderburn, and are investigating locations for further solar arrays expected to generate an additional 2.5 megawatts of renewable energy.”
Mr Crameri explained that Coliban Water’s Climate Change Strategy sets out a range of targets and measures.
“With the installation of our latest solar array in Kyneton, we are on-track to transition to 100% renewable energy by mid-2025.
“Together with Victoria’s 11 other water corporations, we’ve also committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. In a region experiencing an overall drying trend and more extreme weather events this is a critical target, and we have a range of projects and initiatives underway to help us achieve it.
“When we do, the positive impact will be significant. Coliban Water alone will have reduced its annual carbon emissions by 33,604 tonnes – or removed the equivalent of 12,000 cars from our roads every year,” he said.
“We’re investing in tree plantations, transitioning our fleet of staff vehicles to electric vehicles and considering opportunities to produce hydroelectricity at Lake Eppalock.
“Our membership of the Zero Emissions Water partnership, the state’s largest solar farm at Kiamal and a collaboration between all 12 Victorian water corporations, is also a major part of Coliban Water’s transition to 100% renewable energy having accounted for an equivalent of 4,400 tonnes of carbon emission reductions last year.”
You can find more information about Coliban Water’s journey to net zero carbon emissions at connect.coliban.com.au/netzero