Melbourne Water to harness sewage power

Age
Monday 24/8/2009 Page: 3

Melbourne Water will use the sewage at its Western Treatment Plant in Werribee to generate almost all of the facility's power needs. Two additional power generators, believed to cost about $4 million each, will be installed, meaning the plant will produce 95% of its annual electricity needs by mid next year. The project, a collaboration between AGL and Melbourne Water, will harness the power from biogas, which is captured in lagoons on site. Biogas, which includes methane, is a byproduct of sewage treatment.

Melbourne Water spokesman Paul Pretto said it would increase the renewable energy used at the plant from 52 GW hours a year to 72 GW hours a year. "This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a further 24,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, which is the equivalent of taking about 5600 cars off the road," he said.

It Puts the Western Treatment Plant well on track to achieve its goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2018. It comes as the Government- run organisation completed construction of its sixth mini-hydro plant. The final mini-hydro plant, at the Silvan Reservoir, in conjunction with those at Preston, Notting Hill, Olinda, Mount View and the Upper Yarra Dam, will generate enough energy to power 5000 houses.