Floating solar milestone for Warrnambool
Warrnambool’s Brierly Basin is now home to one of Australia’s largest floating solar arrays, marking a major step forward in local renewable energy and sustainable water services.
The new system features 1,260 bi‑facial solar panels, which will generate more than 600,000 kilowatt hours of renewable electricity each year. The panels capture sunlight from above as well as reflected light from the water surface, increasing the efficiency of the system.
Wannon Water Managing Director Steven Waterhouse said the project would help reduce the significant energy costs associated with pumping water from Brierly Basin to the Warrnambool Water Treatment Plant.
“Projects like this help us use energy more efficiently and keep costs down, which means better value for our customers,” Mr Waterhouse said.
Brierly Basin plays an important role in Warrnambool’s drinking water supply. It’s used as a holding storage for water sourced from the Gellibrand River in the Otways and is supplemented by water captured from the Warrnambool Roof Water Harvesting System.
Water from the basin is pumped to the treatment plant, where it’s disinfected and made safe for drinking and food preparation before being distributed to homes, businesses and industries across Warrnambool, Koroit and Allansford.
The floating solar system will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 600 tonnes each year, supporting Wannon Water’s goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2030.
Mr Waterhouse said the project was another important step in reducing Wannon Water’s environmental footprint. “It’s a practical way to cut emissions while continuing to provide safe and reliable water services for our community.”
Previous projects that are helping the water corporation meet the challenges of climate change include a wind turbine to power Portland’s water and sewage treatment plants, solar arrays on its Gateway Road office and water treatment plants in Warrnambool and Hamilton, and a landmark carbon offset project.
