The first stage of construction at the Nhill Renewable Energy Facility is due to begin in May 2024.

GWMWater awarded a contract to Next Generation Electrical for the works.

The facility is GWMWater’s first venture into large scale energy generation with direct connection into the local electricity grid.

When fully operational, it will offset 70 per cent of GWMWater’s total electricity use across its 330 pump stations, treatment facilities, offices and depots.

GWMWater Managing Director, Mark Williams, said the project was part of the organisation’s broader clean energy strategy.

“This is a major and exciting step forward for GWMWater, working towards becoming a carbon-neutral net-generator of electricity,” he said.

The facility is being jointly developed, owned and operated between GWMWater and Vibe Energy and is expected to be operational from early next year.

Vibe Energy is an energy infrastructure company based in South Australia.

The facility will include a 2.75 MW (6.7 MWh) battery and generate 6.5 MW of solar energy from its more than 9000 solar panels.

This is the equivalent to about 1000 residential rooftop systems.

The Nhill facility, along with solar generation that has been installed at 59 other GWMWater sites, will enable GWMWater to become more self-sufficient by generating the energy needed to operate its services with less reliance on electricity from the grid.

The facility will enable GWMWater to achieve its goals of sourcing 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2025 and reaching net-zero by 2035.

GWMWater’s investment in renewable energy enables us to continue to deliver essential water and sewer services, without passing on the cost of rising energy costs to customers.

This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 8 May 2024.