Renewable Energy Project
We’re investing more than $15 million to install renewable energy systems at treatment plants and pump stations across our network.
Our newly installed, behind-the-meter solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have already started generating electricity to power our facilities, reduce our impact on the environment and decrease our ongoing electricity costs.
This major investment in over six megawatts (MW) of renewable energy is a key step in helping us achieve our carbon reduction target to be net zero by 2035.
Electricity is one of our major expenses, accounting for up to 10% of our operating costs. Generating electricity from solar energy is one of a number of opportunities that can help reduce these costs and reduce carbon emissions.
This system will feed into Hunter Water’s own private high voltage network and help power a number of critical Hunter Water assets such as the Balickera Pump Station, Grahamstown Water Treatment Plant, George Schroder Pump Station and the Tomago Water Pump Station.
Our Renewable Energy Program and journey to our net zero target is progressing well. Renewable energy systems are now complete at Dungog Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW), Tanilba Bay WWTW, Karuah WWTW, and Balickera Pump Station, bringing our total installed renewable energy capacity to 6MW.
Commissioned in September 2024, the 3.1MW Balickera Park Solar Project, Hunter Water’s largest solar project to date, was able to double Hunter Water's previous generation capacity of 2.96MW. The output from this project will feed into Hunter Water’s private network and help power several critical Hunter Water assets.
In conjunction with Balickera, Hunter Water is currently delivering an additional 450kW of solar across three sites in Shortland, North Lambton, and Dungog, slated to be switched on by the early 2025.
These works are the final projects to complete our investment in the Phase 1 Onsite Renewable Energy Program with a total of 6.5MW of installed capacity expected. Following Phase 1, a 450kW solar site and a 300kW battery energy storage system at Cessnock is in the planning phase.
Work at Balickera Pump Station
Hunter Water has completed its largest renewable energy initiative at Balickera Pump Station, now receiving electricity from its biggest solar PV installation yet helping power the large water pumps and other critical water supply assets.
The 3.1MW Balickera Park Solar Project involved installing approximately 5,500 ground-mounted solar panels over three hectares of open space, adjacent to Balickera Pump Station. The solar panels are divided into two sections, with one either side of the Balickera Canal.
Sustainable energy
A key initiative in our sustainability journey is to embrace a decarbonised future. To achieve action on climate change and maintain affordable services for our customers, we have set our carbon reduction target to be net zero by 2035.