Gippsland Water’s first solar-powered water treatment plant

Solar panels installed at Gippsland Water’s Tyers Water Treatment Plant began powering the plant this week.

As a result, local homes and businesses will be provided with a moresustainable water supply.

Tyers Water Treatment Plant is the first of several Gippsland Water sites to turn to renewable energy, with the new 27kW solar system expected to reduce the site’s reliance on imported electricity by one sixth.

Managing Director of Gippsland Water, Sarah Cumming said the installation of solar is an important part of the corporation’s pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Gippsland Water will invest $7M over the next seven years to install large-scale solar and small-scale hydro-electricity generators at some of our largest power consuming sites.

“Beginning with the trial at Tyers, we also plan to install a solar electricity system at our head office in Traralgon which will, in effect, supply enough energy to power the whole building at the peak of summer,” Ms Cumming said.

Gippsland Water already sources 10% of its electricity from renewable sources, including a biogas cogeneration facility located at the Gippsland Water Factory and a small hydro-electricity generator installed nearby.

“All of our emissions reductions and offset activities are based on local solutions that support or provide employment and economic benefits to our region,” Ms Cumming added.

Along with all water corporations across the state, Gippsland Water is working towards achieving zero net emissions by 2050, a goal set by the Victorian Government in the Water for Victoria plan and the Victorian Climate Change Act 2017.