Energy & Carbon Program
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
The water industry accounts for more than 20 per cent of the Victorian Government sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. As such, our industry has a leadership role to play in adapting to and mitigating climate change in our state.
Water corporations each have strategies and plans for reducing emissions, mostly from:
Electricity – indirect emissions from grid electricity consumption
Wastewater treatment emissions – direct emissions of nitrous oxide and methane as a by-product of biological processes
Our Energy & Carbon Program is focused on developing a shared understanding of how the water industry can reduce emissions, optimise energy use (which has the dual benefit of reducing operating costs) and work collectively to achieve zero emissions. Find out more below.
Program Manager: Steve Reddington from Barwon Water.
Deputy Program Manager: Alexander Peel from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
Watch the program update at our recent members conference.
Projects
Collaborations
We work with other organisations to contribute to and share knowledge from state and nationwide energy and carbon work.
Currently, this includes WaterRA’s State of Knowledge research project on fugitive emissions from wastewater treatment. We’re also across a DELWP project looking at hydrogen production, including its need for recycled water.
Electricity cost/value forecasting
We are working with VicWater on this project, which has significant interest from water corporations and the potential to provide many benefits.
It involves working with a provider to supply regular electricity price forecasts to the water industry to help reduce costs and achieve efficient energy use. Forecasts can also inform renewable energy business cases, operational electricity budgets and price submissions.
Aeration control trial
The wastewater treatment process is one of the water industry’s main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Aeration is a critical part of the process and by controlling it efficiently, we can reduce emissions.
This trial is at Barwon Water’s Black Rock treatment plant. It involves using ammonia-based aeration to optimise the process and reduce energy consumption.
Completed projects
The following projects have been completed under our Energy & Carbon Program. Please email us if you’d like more information about the projects, including outcomes and reports.
Carbon sequestration - worked with Barwon Water to commission a high-level report on carbon sequestration options in Victoria. The report is available to our member organisations. We are also planning to refine it with outcomes from other targeted assessments to create a central working document for members. Please get in touch if you have an assessment to contribute.
Zero Emissions Water Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) - an innovative venture (the first of its kind in Australia) bringing together 13 Victorian water corporations to jointly purchase zero-emission renewable energy from Kiamal Solar Farm. Visit zew.org.au for more information.
Sub metering project - helping Victorian water corporations implement sub metering programs at waste water treatment plants to assess energy use and identify areas for improvement.