Melbourne Water has completed construction of a solar farm at a north-east Melbourne treatment plant, with operations set to begin later this year.

The Winneke Water Treatment Plant is an essential part of Melbourne’s water distribution network and the third largest user of energy in Melbourne Water’s infrastructure portfolio.

The government says the project will help the Victorian water sector meet its goal of 100 per cent of their electricity needs supplied from renewable energy sources by 2025.

The Winneke Treatment Plant solar farm spans 10 hectares and uses tracking sensors combined with rotational motors to allow for maximum sun exposure and year-round energy generation.

It has 19,000 solar panels, which will generate approximately 12,400 megawatt hours of power each year – the equivalent of powering 2,500 houses annually – preventing 12,000 tonnes of emissions.

In order to maximise energy production in a limited area, the panels rotate on a pivoting bar which follows the movement of the sun. The panels are also bifacial, which means they are capable of generating energy from both sides of the panel.

In what Melbourne Water says is an Australian first, terrain tracking sensors were used for the solar farm’s construction, which allowed the construction to occur on a slope.

That eliminated extensive earthworks which would have impacted the financial viability of the project, state-owned statutory authority says.

“By avoiding extensive earthworks, the panels were installed with minimal ground disturbance: a key restraining factor owing to water purity and soil runoff,” Melbourne Water says.

Excess power produced by the farm will be fed into the grid.

Water sector targets net zero

The Winneke Treatment Plant solar farm is one of a number of projects underway across the state’s water sector to generate renewable energy and reduce emissions, as part of the sector’s target of achieving net zero by 2035.

Another solar farm, designed to help power the Eastern Treatment Plant in Carrum Downs is in late stages of testing and will be operational before the end of the year. The contract for both projects was awarded to Beon Energy Solutions. 

“Victoria’s water sector is leading the nation on emissions reductions with the Winneke Solar Farm delivering a cleaner and cheaper energy supply for Melbourne Water’s operations,” Water Minister Harriet Shing said in a statement.

“This solar farm utilises state-of-the-art technology that will help drive down their running costs and play a significant part in Victoria’s target to meet net zero emission by 2045.”

The solar farm also includes a walking track around the facility, allowing the public to see the solar panels in action, and would be an attraction for the local community, local member Vicki Ward said.

“This solar farm will be a great attraction for the local community to see first-hand the beauty of our renewable energy revolution and know that their local water service is doing its bit to reduce emissions,” she said.