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More than 350,000 solar panels to lower costs and reduce emissions
More than 350,000 solar panels have now been installed across South Australia as part of SA Water’s nation-leading Zero Cost Energy Future project to help lower costs and reduce carbon emissions.
In a major milestone for the $300 million project, all of the 367,769 solar photovoltaic panels have been installed at 33 SA Water treatment plants and pump stations across metropolitan and regional areas – creating 250 jobs during construction.
This includes 30,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels at Happy Valley Reservoir which is now the world’s largest fully moveable solar array.
Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said the achievement proves South Australia continues to be a leader in renewable energy.
Courtesy of NREL
Installed at Lobethal’s sewer pump station, the 266 ground-mounted solar photovoltaic panels will generate around 160 megawatt hours of clean, green energy every year, which is enough to power more than 25 average South Australian homes for a year.
SA Water’s Senior Manager Zero Cost Energy Future Nicola Murphy said the array will play a vital role in sustainably reducing operating costs while keeping prices low and stable for customers.
“Now constructed, energized and capturing the summer sunshine, the solar energy generated by these panels ensures the pump station can still help to deliver trusted wastewater services to our Lobethal customers while reducing the energy costs needed to do so,” Nicola said.