CHW to further invest in green energy

CENTRAL Highlands Water has announced its plans to purchase up to eight thousand-megawatt-hours of renewable energy as part of its emissions reduction pledge last week.

The announcement was made with Zero Emissions Water who purchase solar energy from Victoria’s largest solar farm and share it amongst their 13 partner companies.

“The limited liability company will purchase up to 78-gigawatt-hours of renewable energy per annum from Total Eren’s Kiamal Solar Farm and distribute it to participating water corporations,” said Paul O’Donohue, ZEW chair and managing director of Central Highlands Water.

“The 13 water corporations will each take a percentage share of the total renewable energy ZEW purchases based on their local needs.

“The purchase agreement is set for 11 years and will be supplying each corporation up to 50 per cent of their renewable energy requirement.”

The agreement adds to CHW’s existing efforts to meet their goal of cutting greenhouse gas emission by 20 per cent by 2025, including investing in 3500-megawatt-hours of solar generation at their four largest water, and wastewater sites and using hybrid and electronic cars in their company fleet.

The deal is an Australian first and all 13 partners have committed to meeting or exceeding their net-zero emissions target by either 2030 for the metropolitan Melbourne companies or 2050 for regional Victorian ones.