BARWON WATER / INTELLIGENT WATER NETWORKS
Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) Carbon Sequestration and Offsets Strategy
Developing a carbon offset strategy including high-level planning for a sequestration offsets program under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).
Barwon Water (Barwon Region Water Corporation) is Victoria’s largest regional urban water corporation, delivering high-quality, affordable and reliable water services to more than 320,000 permanent residents, and up to 545,000 people during the peak holiday periods.
Along with other water corporations, Barwon Water have committed to significantly reduce their emissions. For Barwon Water this means achieving zero net emissions by 2030. Reaching this net-zero target, requires water corporations like Barwon Water to sequester or offset their unavoidable, residual emissions.
Ndevr Environmental was engaged to support Barwon Water in developing their carbon offset strategy including high-level planning for a sequestration offsets program under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).
Our team analysed and developed a wide range of options that would allow Barwon Water to either self-generate or procure Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) through suitable ERF Methods across Victoria and the local Barwon region.
Central to this analysis was providing Barwon Water with an indicative price range for generating ACCUs from various different types of projects at a scale ranging from micro through to large, aggregated projects.
The report enabled strategic consideration about the likely costs and benefits of creating a portfolio of carbon projects that deliver on a range of priorities, from ACCU maximisation through to enhanced environmental and socio-cultural benefits.
The results of the assessment have been shared with other Victorian water corporations via their Intelligent Water Networks Energy and Carbon Program, and informed industry-wide discussions on the pursuit of carbon sequestration strategies as a viable option for meeting net-zero targets.
You can learn more about Barwon Water’s Zero Emissions program here.