• About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
No Results
View All Results
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
No Results
View All Results
Home News Company news

Solar farm powering wastewater treatment in Wodonga

by Utility Journalist
October 19, 2023
in Company news, Projects, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sponsored Editorial, Water
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

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 towards North East Water’s ambitions to reach net zero emissions by 2035, the 6,500-panel solar farm will reduce the Corporation’s carbon footprint by 20 per cent or 6,000t of carbon dioxide equivalence every year.

The $9 million solar farm, which uses a single-axis tracking system to increase solar capacity, is already generating more than enough electricity to power the plant during daylight hours, with surplus energy being fed into the electricity grid and offsetting power used at other sites.

North East Water’s effort to reduce its carbon footprint is being driven by the Statement of Obligations (Emission Reduction), which formally commits Victoria’s water corporations to achieve net zero by 2035. Managing Director, Jo Murdoch, said the solar farm is a shining example of how customer bills are being reinvested into projects and services that will benefit them directly.

“Not only is this project significantly reducing emissions which is good for the environment, it’s also reducing energy costs which helps to keep downward pressure on customer bills,” Ms Murdoch said. “We recognise Wodonga is a fast-growing region with a population and industry that is only set to grow.”

The solar farm project demonstrates the Victorian water sector’s leading contribution to reach net zero by 2035, with this government initiative putting Victoria’s 18 water corporations at the forefront of emission reductions. “The new solar farm is part of North East Water’s major investment in new and upgraded infrastructure to improve services for our customers and to build climate resilience,” Ms Murdoch said.

Environment, Systems and Operations General Manager John Day said buffer zones around wastewater treatment plants enabled solar farms to be built. “At our seven other treatment sites, where we don’t have land availability, we can put surplus energy generated here into the grid and extract and use it through a virtual metering network,” Mr Day said.

Victorian Government Water Minister, Harriet Shing, said Victoria’s state-managed water sector is the first in Australia to commit to net zero emissions by 2035. “Our water sector is leading the nation on emissions reductions – showing consumers and industry that we can tackle climate change and boost renewable energy use as our population grows,” Ms Shing said.

These targets also put the Victorian water sector alongside the United Kingdom as the world leader in water sector emissions reductions.

Delivering the Statement of Obligations (Emission Reduction) is a significant milestone for the government, and the state’s water sector, as we all work towards a net zero emissions future.

For more information, visit www.newater.com.au

Related Posts

Image: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Victoria powers up landmark hydrogen project

by Katie Livingston
June 16, 2025

The Victorian and Federal governments have officially launched Australia’s largest hydrogen refuelling project.  The new $61.2 million Viva Energy New...

Image: Mark Hunter/stock.adobe.com 

WA Budget to boost water assessment capacity

by Katie Livingston
June 16, 2025

The Western Australian Government will invest $16.7 million to support key environmental and water resource assessments throughout the state.  $16.7...

Image: Vane Nunes/stock.adobe.com 

WA to set community guidelines for renewable energy projects

by Katie Livingston
June 16, 2025

The Western Australian Government has released draft guidelines on community benefits from renewable energy projects, which aims to ensure that...

Please login to join discussion

Read our magazine

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Utility is the title of choice for decision makers at all levels of water and energy utilities, as well as other major players like consulting engineers and first-tier contractors. Utility is integrated across print and online, and explores the biggest news and issues across the utility industry. It is Australia’s only dedicated utility magazine, and covers all areas of the utility sector, including water and sewer, gas, electricity, communications and the NBN.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Utility

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Digital magazine
  • Events
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Water
  • Electricity
  • Projects
  • Water and Wastewater Treatment
  • Spotlight
  • Civil Construction
  • Renewable Energy

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited