North East Water has taken out a major climate change prize in an innovative joint project with two other Victorian water corporations. They have focused on the development of low carbon concrete as part of cement production.
Victoria’s Water Minister, Harriet Shing MP, recently announced the winner of the Water Minister’s Climate Innovation Challenge 2023. The Climate Innovation Challenge was run by the Intelligent Water Networks (IWN).
The winning project is a collaboration with Yarra Valley Water and Barwon Water. It focused on finding low-carbon cement alternatives for use in the water industry.
North East Water’s Manager of Planning & Liveability, Dr Jill Fagan, said cement is a critical component in concrete. It is also a significant contributor to global carbon emissions.
“Cement generates approximately 8 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions. In the water sector, concrete is used extensively for pipes, water tanks and treatment plants,” Dr Fagan said. “Victoria’s water sector contributes 1 per cent of the state’s total carbon emissions. With a commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2035, innovative projects like this are essential in meeting that target.”
The winning project has been awarded a $30,000 grant to identify and examine the suitability of low-carbon cement alternatives for water industry applications.
Dr Fagan added, “Traditional cement is produced in very high-temperature kilns, which release a lot of carbon dioxide.
“This project team will look at low-carbon cement options that are made using less heat. Alternatively, they can make use of industrial waste products to reduce emissions. The initiative aims to fast-track the uptake of low-carbon cement products within the water sector, potentially becoming a blueprint for the Australian water industry. Through this project, we also hope to influence the use of environmentally friendly concrete alternatives more broadly across other regions and industries.”
North East Water Chair Stephen Brown said, “This innovative and collaborative project showcases the water sector’s leadership in reducing emissions.”
“It positions the sector to adapt to likely changes in emissions regulation and sets a precedent for sustainable practices within our industry,” Mr Brown said.
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