Our net zero pledge

We have pledged to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions to net zero by 2030. We're also committed to sourcing 100 per cent of our electricity from renewables by 2025.

We're collaborating with our partners and working across Country, water, land, energy and resources to reach net zero carbon emissions, restore environmental health and work towards zero waste.

We're part of an industry-wide commitment to act on climate change and lead Victoria's transition to a low-carbon economy. We've promised to reduce our carbon emissions as part of an Emissions Reduction Pledge, which includes all Victorian water corporations.

We're also committed to sourcing 100 per cent of our electricity from renewables by 2025.

Our pledge aligns with the water sector’s emissions reduction obligations, as well as our support for the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals – Goal 13, Climate Action.

Our journey to net zero

We're working towards our net zero targets through initiatives like reducing our emissions and taking part in renewable energy projects.  

Renewable energy

We’re looking at ways we can generate clean energy and support its production.

Generating clean energy

We're generating our own electricity by installing solar panels across our sites. We now have the capacity to generate 1,500,000kWhrs of solar energy each year from almost 3000 solar panels across five sites. That’s enough electricity to power 450 homes for a year. We'll continue to install solar panels across our sites.

At Melton Recycled Water Plant, we’re investigating how we can expand our biogas and renewable energy production, in a waste-to-energy trial. As part of this trial, we’ve added high-strength organic waste to the plant’s anaerobic digester. This material increases the production of biogas, which generates renewable energy, and would otherwise be sent to landfill.

At the Bacchus Marsh Recycled Water Plant, we investigated how we can use solar energy to create green hydrogen, which can then be used by local industry as a replacement for natural gas.

Solar panels at our Altona Treatment Plant.

Investing in clean energy

We’ve joined the Zero Emissions Water initiative with 11 other water corporations. Under the initiative, we purchase renewable electricity from the state’s biggest solar farm in Ouyen. This helps us meet our net zero commitment in a way that is both sustainable and cost-effective for our customers.

Running a virtual power plant

We are exploring opportunities to operate Melton Recycled Water Plant as a virtual power plant that can generate and store its own electricity.

Reducing emissions

We’re reducing our emissions by improving our energy efficiency and supporting the generation of carbon offsets, through industry-wide initiatives. 

Energy efficiency

We're always looking for ways to use less energy and reduce our emissions. This includes decreasing the energy consumption of our assets and operations.

Carbon offsets

We’re part of the VicWater Carbon Offsets Program, which is exploring opportunities for the Victorian water sector to generate offsets to help reduce our carbon footprint. The program encourages investments in projects that reduce, remove, or capture emissions from the atmosphere such as reforestation, renewable energy or energy efficiency.

We are exploring other offset projects in our region. This includes delivering more tree planting programs at our sites to capture carbon and create cooler, greener spaces in Melbourne’s west.