SA Water’s solar investment shines on local business

solar, SA Water
SA Water CE Roch Cheroux and senior manager procurement Nicola Murphy inspect solar PV construction at Glenelg

SA Water has awarded a framework agreement contract for up to $304 million to South Australian company Enerven, to deploy approximately 154 megawatts (MW) of new solar photovoltaic generation and 34 megawatt hours of energy storage, across around 70 of its sites over the next 18 months.

The investment in more than 500,000 solar panels is expected to deliver a return on investment in six years, and help SA Water reach its ambitious goal of achieving zero net electricity costs from 2020.

Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said the project is expected to support around 250 jobs during construction, and include Aboriginal business engagement, apprentice training and opportunity for the supply chain within South Australia.

“The scale and complexity of this landmark program will deliver opportunities for local businesses across a range of sectors, drawing on South Australian excellence in everything from civil works through to security services, engineering and project management, to high-tech system automation,” Minister Speirs said.

Related article: SA mine to be converted to first compressed air facility

“SA Water staff conceived and shaped this initiative – that’s South Australians leading the way with the smarts and skills to strategically integrate renewable energy and storage within the longest water network in the country.”

SA Water chief executive Roch Cheroux said neutralising large operating costs like electricity – which reached $62 million in 2017-18 – will help deliver low and stable prices for customers.

“Our bigger picture is a zero-cost energy future, where we regain control over one of our single largest operational expenses. There’s no doubt our ambitious goal will be a stretch, but we won’t lose sight of it,” Roch said.

“We provide 1.7 million people across South Australia with safe, clean drinking water and reliable sewerage services, every day, and the water and wastewater treatment and pumping operations behind this are very energy intensive and make us one of the biggest electricity users in the state.

“This is an important milestone for our energy management activities, and boots getting ready to hit the ground are a signal that we’ll soon start seeing benefit realisation, as the new sites are progressively energised.”

Related article: New grants for SA home battery systems

Enerven was successful in an extensive, multi-stage public procurement process completed with oversight of an independently appointed probity advisor, and is expected to mobilise to the first group of sites – including large facilities like the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant and Morgan Water Treatment Plant – in the first half of this year.

Enerven general manager Richard Amato said SA Water’s energy initiative is an exciting example of South Australia leading the transition to a renewable energy future.

“We’re relishing the opportunity to be part of a world class program like this, helping a forward-thinking company like SA Water harness renewable technology to deliver benefits for its customers and the environment,” Richard said.

“Growing and developing the local industry as we deliver projects is important to us because it drives lower costs and higher productivity, sustainable outcomes, and fosters innovation based on local knowledge.”

Enerven is a wholly owned subsidiary of SA Power Networks, headquartered in Adelaide, with more than 500 staff based from branch offices, warehouses and depots located within metropolitan and regional South Australia.

Previous articleInnovation paves way for global energy transformation
Next articleVictoria to legislate a default offer