The delivery of drinking water and sewage treatment for 180,000 Coliban Water customers in 49 towns across central and northern Victoria will be delivered using 100% renewable electricity from 1 July 2025.

The switch to renewables is expected to reduce carbon emissions by around 25,500 tonnes per year and is a key milestone as Coliban Water targets net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Acting Executive Manager Strategy, Adam Crameri, said the achievement is good news for customers and the environment. It improves our energy security and drives down long-term operating costs.

“We are now sourcing our energy needs from our own solar installations, as well as Large Generation Certificates from the Zero Emissions Water solar farm at Kiamal that supports renewable energy infrastructure.

“Since adopting our renewable energy target in 2018, we have invested in projects across the region to reduce our reliance on energy from the grid, making our operations more sustainable and efficient, and delivering improved outcomes for our customers and local communities.

“We have installed solar panels totalling 650 kilowatts. These can be found at our facilities in Kyneton in the south, Leitchville and Pyramid Hill in the north, plus Bridgewater, Korong Vale, and Wedderburn,” he said.

“We’re planning further solar installations with the capacity to generate another 100 kilowatts of clean energy, and we continue to benefit from the Zero Emissions Water partnership which operates the state’s largest solar farm at Kiamal on behalf of 12 Victorian water corporations.

“Other plans to expand our renewable energy portfolio include a 1.5 megawatt hydroelectricity and battery project at Lake Eppalock and an additional three megawatt solar and battery project at the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant.”

Mr Crameri said Coliban Water is proud to start the new financial year having achieved this important milestone.

“But there is still more work to do. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with regional stakeholders and peers in the Victorian water sector to achieve the next significant milestone, net zero carbon emission by 2030.

“With this target we expect to reduce our annual carbon emissions by 85% or 25,500 tonnes, the equivalent of removing 10,000 cars from our roads every year,” he said.

“We recognise climate change is one of the most significant risks across our operations. Continuing to reduce our emissions is critical in a region prone to periods of extended dry conditions and extreme weather events.”

You can read more about Coliban Water’s journey to net zero carbon emissions at www.connect.coliban.com.au/netzero