As Australia’s energy grid transitions towards renewables, water utilities also have a large role to play in reaching net zero emissions targets. North East Water is powering ahead and investing in a renewable energy source for its wastewater treatment plant. A new 3MW solar farm is now powering the Wodonga Wastewater Treatment Plant with renewable energy. In a major step […]
As renewable energy gains importance in our pursuit of sustainability, there are several challenges that need to be addressed to accelerate its adoption and maximise its effectiveness. Some of these challenges include intermittency and reliability. Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, are intermittent as they do not produce power consistently. Ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply is […]
Community batteries are flexible and scalable energy solutions that benefit both the local communities they are built in and the wider energy system. Ausgrid is collaborating with the Federal Government to deliver a major community battery rollout, which will see as many as 400 batteries powering neighbourhoods across Australia. The Community Batteries for Household Solar Program will support power quality […]
The Bouldercombe Battery Project (BBP) will be one of the first standalone large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in Queensland and is the first fully commercial project financed battery in Australia. Australian company Genex has partnered with Tesla and Powerlink to operate the battery. We spoke to Genex Chief Executive Officer, Craig Francis, to hear more about the project’s funding, […]
Australian utilities are sitting on a bounty of untapped biogas that has the potential to transform the energy landscape, supercharge a site’s energy efficiency and drastically improve their bottom line. Here we discuss how this untapped resource can drive the energy transition. Waste to energy technologies that harness the power of biogas are mature and transformative solutions that achieve the […]
By Anna Collyer, Chair of the Australian Energy Market Commission As the once-in-a-generation transformation of the power system continues, the way customers interact with energy in their homes is also changing. The Australian Energy Market Commission is now recommending electricity smart meters in 100 per cent of households by 2030 as a critical step to realising benefits for both. The […]
By Ben Barnes, General Manager Corporate Affairs, Australian Energy Council As the cost of living increases, energy bills are placing more and more financial pressure on consumers. In this article the Australian Energy Council (AEC) takes a look at the government reforms currently underway, and how they might impact retailers’ already supporting customers experiencing payment difficulty. A lot has been […]
The Compressed Air Association of Australasia (CAAA) recently announced CAPS Australia as the winner of the inaugural CAAA Safety Award. The winner was judged as having the best system, work procedure or tooling idea that improves the safety of the compressed air industry. CAPS Australia’s winning submission was in recognition of their implementation of technology, usually used for caravans and […]
Construction for the South Coast and Southern Highlands sewerage service upgrades have commenced, after the New South Wales Government granted $9.6 million in funding. The investment from the New South Wales Government includes $3 million to link 57 houses in Akolele to the Bermagui Sewage Treatment Plant, co-funded by the State Government and Eurobodalla Shire Council, and $6.6 million to […]
The Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) has announced that Hydrogen Park (HyP) Gladstone in Queensland, Australia’s first city-wide renewable hydrogen blending project has commenced construction. HyP Gladstone is a small demonstration facility in Queensland designed to produce renewable hydrogen to start to decarbonise gas supply in Gladstone, and is supported by the Queensland Hydrogen Industry Strategy 2019–2024, as well as […]
Coined as the ‘Sunburnt Country’, Australia is a continent where water scarcity and quality closely intertwine with environmental challenges. However, a dedicated legion of professionals stand sentinel on the frontlines of water, wastewater, and desalination treatment plants. These unsung heroes work round-the-clock to secure one of earth’s most precious resources – water. Their efforts, often hidden from the public eye, […]
A new water strategy has been announced by the Queensland Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher, during National Water Week. Developed in consultation with the water industry, stakeholders and the community, the strategy harnesses the strong partnerships and collaborative approach the Queensland Government has with communities across Queensland, to meet challenges and create future opportunities when it comes to water security. […]
South East Water has been named as a finalist in four categories of the Australian Water Association’s (AWA) Victoria awards. South East Water said that it is proud to be recognised alongside some of its industry partners for its commitment to delivering better customer, community and environmental outcomes to secure a sustainable future, and is a finalist in the following […]
40 Robust Oyster Baskets (ROBs) have been installed in the upper reaches of the Pine River, downstream of Unitywater’s Murrumba Downs Wastewater Treatment Plant, as part of the Oyster Reef Restoration project. The project aims to determine the effectiveness and value of oysters to filter nutrients in waterways over the next five years and could reshape the future of shellfish […]
The Queensland Coordinator-General has declared the $14.2 billion Borumba Pumped Hydro Energy Storage project a coordinated project, meaning that assessment of social, economic and environmental matters can begin. The project, being developed by Queensland Hydro, involves building a new upper reservoir, as well as a new dam wall that will replace the existing Borumba Dam wall and increase Lake Borumba’s […]
Boundary Power has developed a first-of-its-kind, relocatable, hydrogen integrated stand-alone power system (HiSAPS) in Victoria, aided by funding from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). On 9 October 2023, the Victorian Minister for Climate Action, Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, visited the Ampcontrol manufacturing site in Ringwood to see the demonstration unit in action, powering the internal […]
Seqwater has released its 2023 Water Security Program, which outlines how it plans to deliver reliable, quality water to the region’s rising population. As outlined in the South East Queensland Regional Plan, population is set to grow to more than six million over the next 30 years. The Water Security Program maps out how Seqwater plans to continue to provide […]
In an effort to support the long-term health of the Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary, work has begun on a major pipeline installation that is set to improve capacity for sewage and storm water transfer. The 3km long, 1m wide pipeline will travel 40m under the riverbed of the Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary, connecting the recently upgraded Margaret Street Sewage Pump Station near Kings Park […]
The Warren Reservoir has officially reopened to the public for on-water access following SA Water’s refurbishment of the dam intake and scour valves. Visitors to the reservoir reserve are now able to again enjoy a paddle on the water after the reservoir reached a level suitable for kayaking, with access via the southern car park and kayak launch area. The […]
South East Water has commenced phase two works on an upgrade to 4.4km of water pipes from Portsea to Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. The utility said the upgrades are designed to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for Mornington Peninsula customers and visitors for years to come. Phase one of the works started in August 2023 along […]
Marinus Link has announced the launch of an uncrewed surface vessel (USV), which will be used to survey the seabed conditions of Waratah Bay as part of the preparations for the proposed undersea electricity and data cable between Tasmania and Victoria. Marinus Link Project Manager, Simon Bresnehan, said the non-invasive survey data will help Marinus Link understand local conditions and […]
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), on behalf of the Federal Government, has announced $499,744 in funding to Monash University for a project to address oscillation issues in Australia’s energy grid. The $1.3 million project will develop a tool to help identify the root causes of oscillatory instability and identify potential solutions. The tool will be suitable for use by […]
In its latest State of the energy market report, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has revealed that while the National Electricity Market (NEM) saw better outcomes in 2023 than it did the previous year, there are network vulnerabilities that still remain. The report reveals some improved outcomes in wholesale energy markets with average wholesale electricity prices significantly lower than the […]
A sewer in Adelaide’s north-east has had a half-tonne tree root removed by SA Water, potentially preventing community interruptions and sewage overflows. The five-kilometre-long, 675-millimetre-diameter sewerage pipe travels beneath suburban streets and reserves between Bridge Road in Walkley Heights and Kelly Road in Para Vista, with a large number of trees in the area. During a 30-minute period, SA Water’s […]
The Australian Government has opened consultations and released a paper on a national Future Gas Strategy, which aims to help industries, households and the government make decisions about the future role of gas. Federal Minister for Resources, Madeleine King, said Australia’s gas policy settings were important for Australia’s energy security, for business and industry, for the environment and for local […]
While there are various environmental, financial and social factors that utilities need to take into consideration to develop a resilient water management system, these are the five must-haves for a utility to be successful. All utilities are facing similar challenges around climate change. This requires the implementation of net zero targets and new, innovative ways to repair environmental damage, as […]
The New South Wales Government has signed a $45 million funding agreement to build a hydrogen hub on Kooragang Island near Newcastle. The Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub is designed to assist emissions-intensive industries to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. The project, led by Origin Future Fuels with funding from the Federal and New South Wales State Governments, will be […]
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has released a new Better Bills Guideline that will require energy consumers to make their bills more consumer-friendly, ensuring that consumers can more easily understand the information and make smarter decisions. The new mandatory Better Bills Guideline will come into effect on 30 September and is designed to help households and small businesses understand their […]
The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has released the second Quarterly Carbon Market Report (QCMR) for 2023, which indicates that while consumer-scale renewables have shown growth, the first half of the year has been slow for large-scale investment. Households and businesses continue to invest in energy efficiency technology. Rooftop solar is tracking to add more than 3GW of new installed capacity […]
At an independent forum held in Adelaide, marine scientists from government and aquaculture groups met to discuss undertaking studies to support SA Water’s proposed desalination plant on the Eyre Peninsula. Representatives from SA Water, the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), independent Marine Science Review Panel and scientific experts supporting several local aquaculture groups met for the roundtable discussion. […]
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