SA Water has achieved a renewable energy feat in its goal of reaching zero net emissions. South Australia’s largest wastewater treatment facility has recently achieved record levels of energy self-sufficiency through increasing biogas production.
By increasing the production of biogas, SA Water’s Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant generated 3,099-megawatt hours of renewable energy in July. It marks the highest monthly levels recorded, well above the yearly average of 2,800-megawatt hours.
The renewables record underpinned the site reaching 112 per cent energy sufficiency for the month. It followed 106 and 98 per cent self-sufficiency in the two months prior. The excess green energy produced in May and July were exported to the electricity grid, further reducing the utility’s operating expenses.
Bolivar’s 14-metre-high anaerobic digesters capture and heat solid waste from the sewage treatment process to naturally break down the organic matter. The resulting gases power the site’s large engines, which power various stages of the treatment process.
Biogas driving zero net emissions
SA Water’s General Manager of Operations, Chris Young, said the energy produced was crucial in reducing exposure to market volatility. It will save thousands of dollars in operating electricity expenses.
“Being one of South Australia’s largest electricity users, it’s important we can continue to harness ways of making our operations as efficient and sustainable as possible,” Young said.
“With recent volatility in Australia’s electricity spot market underpinning a significant increase in costs for both households and organisations like ours, we looked at ways to maximise the production and use of biogas to power our Bolivar site, particularly when prices spiked. While previously achieving an average of 85 per cent self-sufficiency at Bolivar, this has increased significantly over the past 12 months to reach a new average of 95 per cent,” said Young
“When you consider our Bolivar plant treats the majority of wastewater for metropolitan Adelaide, achieving self-sufficiency is significant. The flow-on benefits of renewable energy sources like biogas also reduce our carbon footprint. This will only grow further with thousands of solar photovoltaic panels and on-site battery storage set to be energised at Bolivar over the coming months.”
Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant is operated with SUEZ, SA Water’s production and treatment alliance partner. It treats an estimated 150 million litres of sewage every day – the equivalent of around sixty Olympic-sized swimming pools.
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