Sydney Water’s Bondi Wastewater Treatment Plant is now producing enough renewable energy from waste to power the entire plant and provide excess to the grid.
Minister for Primary Industries, Lands and Water Niall Blair announced the landmark achievement on Tuesday (5 July) during a visit to the facility with Member for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton.
Sydney Water is generating more than 20 per cent of its total energy needs across its network through a number of innovative renewable energy projects. This has also reduced greenhouse emissions by over 70,000 tonnes a year.
Its Bondi Plant treats the waste of 300,000 people in the area. It combines minimising the impact on the electricity grid network with the capacity to return 13 per cent net energy back to the grid – enough to power about 150 households a year.
“This project is yet another great example of Sydney Water using research and innovation to turn biogas into renewable energy to power the entire plant, which benefits the environment and reduces operating costs,” said Mr Blair.
Ms Upton said the project would be of great benefit to the environment and local residents.
“The renewable energy process will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions of around 8,000 tonnes a year from Bondi alone, and this is a great outcome for our local environment.”
Photo shows Sydney Water Bondi Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Tony Williamson with Ministers Blair and Upton inspecting the Plant.