The first row of solar panels has been installed at Melbourne Water’s Eastern Treatment Plant (ETP).

The first row of panels has been installed at the authority’s solar farm. It has been dubbed the “golden row” – with 39,000 panels to be eventually installed to create the 18 megawatt facility.

The solar farm will help power ETP, which is responsible for treating about 40 per cent of Melbourne’s sewage. 

This means, instead of using electricity from the grid, Melbourne Water will be using the solar plant to help power our own major infrastructure.

“The solar farm is one of the many ways we’re adapting our operations to prepare for a changing climate, reducing our own carbon emissions and generating more renewable energy,” the authority says

The farm is being constructed by Beon Energy Solutions and Melbourne Water’s Project Manager Kai So is pleased with the progress.

“This project is an important part of Melbourne Water’s Path To Net Zero campaign and to see the first row of panels installed is a great step forward,” Mr So said.

“We anticipate steady progress as more and more rows of panels are scheduled to be installed in the coming months. The project is due to be completed by mid-2022.”