A new program is giving a group of South East Water graduates a chance to gain valuable experience in the next energy frontier.
As part of the Constructionarium Australia program, the crew are learning to tackle one of the most important aspects of future renewable energy – how to store it and have it available when needed – by constructing a water battery.
The Constructionarium program is a hands-on eight-day accelerated training experience for early career professionals, interns, graduate program participants and those new to infrastructure.
A water battery, also known as pumped hydro energy storage, is an innovative system for storing and generating renewable energy. It operates by moving water between two reservoirs at different elevations to manage electricity supply and demand effectively.
As part of the program, South East Water graduates Billy Weston, Josh Schembri and Ryan Sharma, alongside Project Engineer, Kiran Balamurugan, worked with teams from Melbourne Water and BMD to build a small-scale version of this system at Melbourne Water’s Western Treatment Plant.
In this project, solar panels powered the pumps, ensuring the entire system was fuelled by clean energy. For many, it was their first experience managing such a technically demanding, multi-disciplinary build.
The participants in the program gained hands-on experience in sustainable energy storage, and the project provided valuable insights into how renewable energy can be used more effectively and how these systems are constructed in real-world applications.
The participants rotated through a variety of roles within the project team, including positions such as project controls manager, safety officer, electrical specialist, and supervisor. The structure allowed the graduates to broaden their understanding of the different responsibilities involved in delivering a complex project and gain valuable leadership experience.
Mr Schembri said the program broadened his perspective and gave him a hands-on appreciation of the project lifecycle.
“Participating in Constructionarium opened my eyes to the contractor view on projects, both during tender and construction phases, which I had previously only experienced from the client side,” he said.
“It was also very rewarding to undertake this project with a diverse group of people working in very different roles across different organisations, gaining insight into their thoughts whilst building my professional network.”
Mr Weston said the program aligned with his passion for sustainability and renewable energy.
“This project was an incredible opportunity to work on infrastructure that directly supports the renewable energy transition,” he said.
“Water batteries are an intriguing and reliable option for balancing renewable energy generation with consumption. They offer a practical way to store surplus energy and release it when it’s most needed.”
Applications for the South East Water 2026 Graduate Program will be open from June 2025.
Image:
