Gippsland Water has activated one of Australia’s largest floating solar arrays at the Drouin wastewater treatment plant.
The innovative 350-kilowatt (kW) system consists of 644 individual solar panels floating on one of the plant’s treatment lagoons.
Acting Managing Director Simon Aquilina highlighted the array’s significance in meeting Gippsland Water’s commitments.
“These solar panels will help us reach our renewable energy target of 100 percent by 2025 and contribute to achieving our target of net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2030,” Aquilina said.
“They also positively impact the wastewater treatment process by reducing evaporation.”
In addition to its environmental benefits, the floating solar array is expected to reduce operating costs and put downward pressure on customer water bills.
At peak capacity, it can fully power the treatment plant, producing enough electricity to meet the needs of nearly 90 homes per day.
The Drouin facility is the eighth Gippsland Water site to be partially powered by solar energy, as the utility undertakes several innovative projects on its path to net-zero emissions.
Last year, a 1200kW solar array was commissioned at the Gippsland Water Factory in Maryvale.
The floating solar panels are part of a $55 million upgrade to the Drouin wastewater treatment plant, which became operational in 2022. While the plant upgrade is now complete, the floating solar array represents one of the final components of this major infrastructure project.
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