About the project

Barwon Water has completed construction of the Colac Renewable Organics Network (RON). The Colac RON will help our water reclamation plant in Colac run on clean, green and low-cost energy.

We are working with the Colac-based Australian Lamb Company and Bulla Dairy Foods to take their organic trade waste and convert it into renewable electricity.

The work commenced in August 2022 and our main commissioning works are now underway. We have one more stage of works scheduled for early 2025 to finish off this exciting project.

When the project is complete in early 2025, the Colac RON will start generating electricity and be able to produce 5.5 gigawatt hours of energy – enough to completely power the Colac water reclamation plant, as well as produce hot water that can be sent back to the Australian Lamb Company via an innovative hot water pipeline.

The upgrade will significantly reduce the high energy cost of treating sewage and wastewater, helping to keep Barwon Water customers’ bills affordable, cater for future growth of the area and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4,200 tonnes per year.