SA Water unveils solar-powered pipeline

In a continuation of SA Water’s progression to a zero-cost energy future, the Morgan–Whyalla Pipeline — which spans a large part of regional South Australia — is now powered by more than 19,000 solar panels.

At a length of around 358 km, and starting from SA Water’s Morgan Water Treatment Plant, the concrete pipeline transports treated, high-quality drinking water from the River Murray across to the Upper Spencer Gulf region.

The solar array forms part of SA Water’s industry-leading renewable energy project working towards a zero-cost energy future, headlined by the installation of more than 500,000 solar panels across the state, producing a total of 242 GWh of green energy each year.

The solar array located at the pipeline’s third pump station in Geranium Plains is now participating in the National Electricity Market, with the large solar photovoltaic panels capable of generating 14,000 MWh of clean, green energy.

SA Water Senior Manager Zero Cost Energy Future Nicola Murphy said each panel at the pump station is constructed on a pivoted racking system, to track the sun from east to west throughout the day.

“Given the Morgan to Whyalla Pipeline is responsible for delivering clean, safe drinking water to tens of thousands of our customers from the Riverland, Barossa, Mid North and Upper Spencer Gulf regions, the energy requirements to pump such volumes of water are significant,” Murphy said.

“With this large solar array now energised and capturing the sun’s rays, we are harnessing green energy to reduce our pumping expenses without any impact to the pump station’s overall performance.

“The direct current (DC) voltage captured by the panels is converted into high-voltage alternating current (AC) energy, where it travels underground to a connection point for use at the pump station.”

SA Water Senior Manager Zero Cost Energy Future Nicola Murphy.

Murphy explained that any excess electricity generated at the site can be sold back to the national grid.

“The array is one of four being installed along the Morgan to Whyalla Pipeline, with a further 15,000 solar panels at the fourth pump station outside Robertstown aiming to be energised by mid-2021,” she said.

SA Water’s extensive water and wastewater operations make it one of South Australia’s largest electricity consumers, with the utility’s 2019–20 electricity costs reaching approximately $86 million.

“Increasing our renewable energy generation will help sustainably reduce operating expenses and ensure we can keep prices low and stable for our customers across the state,” Murphy said.

“At SA Water we provide our state’s most important and essential service — the delivery of safe, clean water and dependable sewerage services. We are a corporation owned by the people of South Australia, and are committed to providing our 1.6 million customers with trusted water services that represent excellent value. We invest $300 million a year in sustaining and enhancing our statewide network, to ensure it continues to play an integral role in South Australia’s social and economic development.

“The positive impact of our zero-cost energy future project also extends to the wider South Australian environment, with our total emissions reduction the equivalent of planting more than seven million trees, or removing more than 30,000 motor vehicles from the road every year of operation.”

SA Water’s zero-cost energy future initiative has already seen around 160,000 solar panels positioned at sites like the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Adelaide Desalination Plant, with the remaining panels due to be installed over the coming months.

Image caption: The 19,000+ solar panels located at the pipeline’s third pump station will help reduce SA Water’s operational costs.