Policy and roadmap to set path towards net zero emissions by 2030

Nov 03, 2021

Riverina Water’s commitment to eliminating its contribution to climate change has taken a critical step with the development of a Net Zero Emissions Policy.

Riverina Water CEO Andrew Crakanthorp said the policy continued the work of the local water utility’s Net Zero Roadmap developed earlier in the year.

“The Net Zero Roadmap showed 95% of Riverina Water’s emissions come from grid supplied electricity usage, with the remainder mostly from fuel usage,” Mr Crakanthorp said. 

“The policy and roadmap set out a series of steps Riverina Water can take to work towards its net zero target by 2030.

“Thanks to the foresight and ingenuity of staff, we are already developing a two-hectare solar farm and battery project worth more than $20M.

“Along with being our biggest contributor to emissions, electricity is also a substantial cost.

"The typical yearly cost to operate the water treatment plant and bores, and pump drinking water to reservoirs is around the Riverina is $3.5M.”

With remaining emissions mostly from fuel, Riverina Water recently added an electric vehicle to its fleet.

“The electric vehicle is being used by our Meter Reading team, who regularly travel across the region as part of their work,” Mr Crakanthorp said.

“Trialling an electric vehicle with this team was a logical choice given the nature of their work and so far the feedback has been positive.”

Riverina Water’s Net Zero Roadmap

Electricity

  • Transition to almost 100% locally supplied renewable electricity
  • Investigate solar installation on adjacent land to power some sites
  • Explore shifting load and use of battery storage to maximise the use of solar

Fleet

  • Procure the most efficient vehicles available
  • Use E10 petrol and biodiesel blends for internal combustion engine vehicles
  • Use renewable liquid fuels when available in the future
  • Electrification of the vehicle fleet over time

Remaining emissions

  • Explore procurement of lower-carbon water treatment chemicals
  • Purchase carbon offsets: it is acknowledged that this is a last resort, but a small volume may be needed to achieve net zero