Energy and renewables

Our organisation is committed to reducing energy use and carbon emissions. To do this, we are constantly looking for ways to:

  • Reduce energy consumption.
  • Reduce the generation of greenhouse emissions.
  • Build resilience against climate change.

Energy management

Our circular economy plan directs meaningful action to reducing our energy use as a resource. As a business, we are reducing our reliance on high-carbon sources and increasing our focus on renewable energy.
Our plan aims to reduce energy use through optimisation of operations, by introducing energy efficiencies into our projects, fuels and fleet, and by energy recapture. It includes three approaches to improve our business’s efficiency:

  • Measuring – quantifying and monitoring our energy use.
  • Engaging – teaching, learning and collaborating to find more opportunities.
  • Reducing – acting to reduce energy use and wastage. 
  • We also evaluate the sustainability of infrastructure investments to drive resource efficiency.

Key examples include:

Our Bendora and Corin dams ]

We use gravity to transport water to our treatment plant. This reduces the need for pumping stations.

In several places, we generate energy using mini hydro stations and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Our wastewater treatment plant ]

We recover heat from organic material. This reduces our carbon footprint and creates a useful substance called Agri Ash.

solar panels solar panels
Solar energy

We have installed 1.4 MW of solar PV at several locations throughout Canberra. This lowers our costs by making us less reliant on the electricity grid.

Maintaining sources of renewable energy helps support our energy resilience and the decarbonisation of electricity in our region. It is becoming more and more important to manage risks related to climate change.

Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre

Hydropower

Hydro is the largest contributor to renewable generation in Australia. We maintain four mini-hydro electricity generators with a capacity of 2.5MW of renewable electricity. They reduce electricity costs and the need for fossil fuel generators.