South Australian SA Water will invest over AUD$300 million to install more than 500,000 solar panels across South Australia as part of its goal to achieve a zero-cost energy future.
An announcement released by the company stated: “Sustainably reducing operational expenses like electricity will help us keep water and sewerage charges as low and stable as possible, and is one way we can contribute to easing cost of living pressures for our customers.”
The water utility plans to install 24 gigawatt hours (GWh) of new solar arrays at around 35 sites and 34 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy storage devices, by the end of 2020. Thanks to this initiative, SA Water will generate 70% of their electricity needs in an average weather and water consumption year.
“The energy we generate and store on-site will reduce our reliance on expensive grid electricity and create a revenue stream from carefully timed sales back to the market.”
