The Western Australian Government has partnered with Water Corporation and committed $30 million over three years for solar energy projects, which will see the utility install 45,000 rooftop solar panels on around 50 of its pump stations, other buildings and borefields throughout the state.
The rooftop panels will generate the energy equivalent of powering 4,400 households, reducing Water Corporation’s emissions by around 18,000 tonnes per year. This is the equivalent of taking 7,700 cars off the road.
The project is part of a broader Water Corporation initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which includes energy efficiency, tree planting and emissions offsets.
Since 2018, the State Government has invested $2.8 million in 30 renewable energy projects at Water Corporation sites throughout the state, including six in regional Western Australia.
Water Corporation delivers essential water and wastewater services across 2.6 million km² of Western Australia, which requires a significant amount of energy.
Western Australian Water Minister, Dave Kelly, said, “The state’s water supplies are being adversely affected by climate change and the decline in rainfall, particularly in the south-west.
“It is important water utilities take every opportunity now to lead by example and do what they can to increase the use of renewable energy, such as solar, to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that fast-track climate change.
“It is great to see that the Water Corporation remains committed to exploring and adopting new technology to increase the use of renewable energy.”
