SA Water has reported that as part of its aim to reach zero net emissions it has achieved record levels of energy self-sufficiency in the State’s largest wastewater treatment facility.
The utility reported that the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant generated 3,099 megawatt hours of renewable energy in July, marking its highest monthly levels recorded and well above the yearly average of 2,800 megawatt hours.
It said the renewable energy feat underpinned the site reaching 112 per cent energy sufficiency for the month, which followed 106 and 98 per cent self-sufficiency in the two months before.
The excess green energy produced in May and July was exported to the electricity grid, further reducing the utility’s operating expenses.
General Manager of Operations at SA Water, Chris Young said the energy that was produced was crucial in reducing exposure to market volatility and saving thousands of dollars in operating electricity expenses.
“Being one of South Australia’s largest electricity users, it’s important we can continue to harness ways of making our operations as efficient and sustainable as possible,” Mr Young said.
“While previously achieving an average of 85 per cent self-sufficiency at Bolivar, this has increased significantly over the past 12 months to reach a new average of 95 per cent.”
He said considering the Bolivar plant treated the majority of wastewater for metropolitan Adelaide, “being able to achieve self-sufficiency is a significant achievement”.
“The flow-on benefits of renewable energy sources like biogas also reduce our carbon footprint, and this will only grow further with thousands of solar photovoltaic panels and on-site battery storage set to be energised at Bolivar over the coming months,” Mr Young said.
