Reducing emissions with South East Water

Beca is thrilled to announce the Fulton Hogan Delplant Beca (FHDB) joint venture has been awarded the contract to design and install Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit at South East Water’s Mt Martha Water Recycling Plant (WRP) in Melbourne.

The project consists of the initial site preparation, design, construction and commissioning of the mechanical, SCADA and power systems to enable integration of the CHP unit into the plant.

"The new CHP unit is one way we’re planning ahead to help minimise our impact on the  environment, and is a key stepping stone for us to meet our Emissions Reductions Pledge by 2025. We look forward to working with FHDB as delivery partners on this innovative project," said South East Water’s General Manager Liveable Water Solutions Charlie Littlefair.

By utilising biogas produced onsite – supplemented by natural gas from the grid – to generate electricity, South East Water can reduce the amount of electricity purchased from the grid and thus its carbon emissions.

The project strongly aligns with South East Water's Emissions Reduction Pledge to reduce emissions by 45 percent by 2025 and their longer-term goal of net zero emissions by 2030. Tariff metering will be provided to allow South East Water to claim Large Scale Generation Certificates for the renewable energy produced.

"It’s fantastic to be working with South East Water to enhance Mt Martha Water Recycling Plant operations and tangibly reduce carbon emissions," says Allan Campbell, Beca Technical Director.

Mt Martha WRP treats sludge generated by the wastewater treatment process through anaerobic digestion followed by aerobic digestion prior to solar drying to produce biosolids. 

The WRP has two anaerobic digesters that produce biogas, which in turn is used in two boilers to heat the anaerobic process. The CHP unit is an alternative to a boiler, which will not only satisfy the heat requirements of the anaerobic digesters but also generate electricity that can be used onsite. Commissioning is scheduled to be completed by mid-2020.

South East Water’s Mt Martha WRP was commissioned in 1978 and now treats sewage from a customer base of approximately 75,000 from the townships of Mt Martha, Mornington, Mt Eliza, Somerville, Pearcedale, and Baxter.

Find out more about the FHDB joint venture, and delivery of South East Water’s pipes and structures program here.