Wind change: Major green power deal for water, health and port agencies

THREE of Geelong’s largest organisations have signed up to a renewable power deal that will provide energy savings equivalent to taking 24,000 cars off the road.

Barwon Water, Barwon Health and GeelongPort have signed a Power Purchase Agreement that will source power from Mount Gellibrand Wind Farm, near Birregurra.

The deal is for 68 gigawatt hours (GWh) of green energy each year for the organisations – or enough to power 14,000 homes.

The local bodies and state government say the Barwon Region Energy Partnership (B-REP) is a major collective step to powering the agencies with 100 per cent renewable electricity.

B-REP is a 10-year deal, starting on December 1, which will send electricity to a grid allocated to the three organisations to offset their energy use.

Barwon Water is set to be the biggest winner from the parentship, receiving two-thirds of the energy supply (45 GWh a year) in a step that will ensure it is using 100 per cent renewable electricity
by 2025.

“This project is the final step to meet Barwon Water’s target of using 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2025, and a huge step towards Barwon Water’s target of achieving net zero emissions by 2030,” managing director Tracey Slatter said.

“It is really exciting in terms of action on climate change, and I couldn’t be more proud of the work that has been done to get us there.”

Barwon Health CEO Frances Diver said the agreement would cut the health service’s emissions by 70 per cent.

“At Barwon Health, we recognise climate change is a big issue and recognise the clear link between the health and wellbeing of the environment and the health and wellbeing of Victorians, particularly the most
vulnerable Victorians.”

GeelongPort chief executive officer Brett Winter said the PPA also aligned with his organisation’s climate objectives.

“Sustainability is a core value at GeelongPort, because not only do we work here, but we live here too.

Our Environment Strategy has the bold vision to be Australia’s most environmentally sustainable bulk port.”

Melanie Sutton, director of ACCIONA Energia that operated the wind farm, said the partnership was an example of how large industries could decarbonise their energy use.

The state government applauded the move and said it would support its aims including to have all government operations running entirely on renewable power by 2025.

“Renewable energy agreements like this are key to driving down our emissions and meeting our ambitious target of reducing emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050,” Environment and Climate Action Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said.