Powering reliable water supply: How Sydney Desalination Plant runs on 100% renewable energy

Powering reliable water supply: How Sydney Desalination Plant runs on 100% renewable energy

The Sydney Desalination Plant (SDP) plays a critical role in securing Sydney’s water future, providing a drought and flood-proof supply of clean, fresh water. However, its commitment to sustainability extends beyond the water it produces; it encompasses how its operations are powered in line with its priority to minimise the environmental impact of the plant.

To shed light on this, Iftekhar Omar, the SDP’s General Manager Strategy & Commercial, discussed the unique and pioneering way SDP is powered. His insights reveal a story of deliberate design, significant investment in renewable energy, and a commitment to a greener future for New South Wales.

How is the Sydney Desalination Plant currently powered?

Desalination is an energy-intensive process with the Plant requiring approximately 40 megawatts of electricity at full production – the same as all the residential load of the city of Newcastle or just over half the load of Sydney Trains operations.. This makes SDP one of NSW’s major commercial user of energy..

This is why it was imperative for the Plant to be powered by 100% renewable energy. When the original planning was underway for the development of the Plant, there was a requirement from the NSW Government for it to be 100% renewable powered. It wasn’t an afterthought or a later upgrade; it was a core condition that shaped how the Plant would operate from its inception.

This means that every drop of water produced by the Plant is done so with a minimal carbon footprint, thanks to its dedicated renewable energy source.

Which part of the desalination process is most energy intensive?

To make high quality drinking water, the Plant uses reverse osmosis membrane technology – that is, where seawater is passed through about 36,000 membranes at high pressure to remove salt and other minerals – essentially, ‘desalting’ ocean water. This is where 90% of our power is used.

How did SDP achieve its 100% renewable energy status?

To meet this ambitious requirement, the Plant is powered by renewable energy produced at Capital Wind Farm, which is located near the NSW and ACT border and can generate about 140 megawatts from 67 turbines. The wind farm was built to provide additional grid-scale renewable energy to support the considerable energy demand of the plant when in operation, ensuring it was powered by clean energy.

At the time of construction, it was the largest wind farm in NSW and was designed to increase the state’s wind energy supply by over 700%, helping to reduce the state’s reliance on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement between the SDP and the wind farm was, in fact, one of the first major renewable power purchase agreements of its kind, setting a precedent and pioneering a model for other large energy users to follow in Australia.

This direct link between the Plant’s energy needs and a dedicated renewable source is what makes SDP’s power strategy so unique and impactful.

All electricity consumed by the Plant is 100% matched by renewable energy certificates.

Are you looking at diversifying your energy mix in the future?

While the wind farm has enough capacity to supply all of the Plant’s needs, the renewable energy contracts with the wind farm will expire in 2030. SDP is already planning for how best to meet its renewable energy needs beyond 2030 and continuing to support a reliable renewable energy system in NSW. The views of SDP’s water customers will be key to determining how it purchases renewable energy into the future.

It’s an exciting time to consider the Plant’s new energy contracting approach because the entire energy grid is transforming. SDP is looking at all potential options to deliver the best outcome for water customers and the community, including large-scale wind, solar and battery firming. It is also looking at how the Plant can innovate “behind the meter”, including through rooftop solar, battery storage, and load-shaping, while maintaining flexible full-time supply of high-quality rainfall independent drinking water.

The Plant stands as a testament to how critical infrastructure can be both essential for urban life and a leader in environmental stewardship. By being powered by 100% renewable energy, the Plant not only secures Sydney’s water supply but also actively contributes to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for NSW. It’s a commitment to powering reliable water supply, responsibly and sustainably, for generations to come.

Learn more about our environmental initiatives

SDP’s 2025 Year in Review: Resilient, renewable and ready for the future

The Sydney Desalination Plant supported Sydney Water in 2025 as the city’s only significant rainfall independent source of drinking water, delivering approximately 20,000 million litres of high quality drinking water to Sydneysiders. This blog recaps what the Plant achieved this past year, leadership and ownership updates and community partnerships as the year comes to a close.

18 December 2025

Sydney’s climate‑proof water backbone: Inside Sydney Desalination Plant’s ability to expand

As extreme weather events, droughts and floods occur more often and with less predictability, Sydney needs a reliable, climate‑independent drinking water sources that keep homes, jobs and essential services running while giving Sydney Water the flexibility to manage critical maintenance and water quality without disruption to supply, even in the absence of drought.

Sydney Desalination Plant outlines its ability to double its capacity and strengthen Sydney’s resilience to droughts, floods, system issues and water quality challenges.

1 December 2025

National Water Week 2025: Bringing water in focus

For National Water Week 2025, the Australian Water Association invited all Australians to Bring Water into Focus – a new call to action that encourages people to see water not just as a resource, but as the invisible thread connecting everything in our lives.

30 October 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sydney Desalination Plant operating?
While the Plant was originally designed to operate only in times of drought, it has remained operational since 2019 to help address several storage dam water quality issues arising from bushfires, flooding and significant maintenance tasks in Sydney Water’s supply network.

The Sydney Desalination Plant’s WICA Network Operator’s Licence enables the Plant to remain operational, recognising that the Plant has always been, and will continue to be, an essential component of Sydney’s water management and an integral part of our city’s water-resilient future.
How much water does the Plant produce?
The Plant can provide up to 15 per cent of Sydney’s average drinking water needs without any reliance on rainfall.

It treats, filters and re-mineralises seawater to produce up to 91.25 gigalitres per annum of high-quality drinking water.

Under our WICA Network Operator’s Licence, the Plant will operate on a “flexible full-time basis”, producing between about 20 gigalitres to 91.25 gigalitres every year.
What does desalinated water taste like?
Sydney Desalination Plant water is treated to taste the same as Sydney’s other drinking water.

Like dam water, water from the desalination plant is treated to meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which makes it among the best in the world.
Who owns the Plant?
Sydney Desalination Plant is jointly owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board and the Utilities Trust of Australia, which is managed by Morrison. Find out more on our About Us page.

Why is desalination important?
The Sydney Desalination Plant is Sydney’s only major sources of non-rainfall dependent drinking water. It is one effective way of securing Sydney’s water supply against the effects of climate change and natural disasters and the increase in demand due to population growth, warmer weather and urban greening projects.

While the Plant was originally designed to respond to Australia’s severe millennium drought, recent experiences have demonstrated that drought is only one type of event that requires support from the Plant to ensure clean and safe drinking water for Greater Sydney.

The Plant has been a reliable drinking water supply during floods and bushfires, which caused water quality challenges from time to time in Sydney’s storage dams.
Where does the water go?
The Plant can supply water to homes and businesses south of Sydney Harbour and as far west as Bankstown, as part of all their water supply.

Sydney Water uses a variety of water sources to supply customer needs. Where your water comes from depends on demand and where in Sydney you live.

If you live in the blue-shaded area on this map, you may receive water from the dams, the Sydney Desalination Plant or a combination of both. The Plant's water proportion will change throughout the day due to variations in supply and demand.

Everyone will benefit from desalination because it allows more water to be left in the dams, which means a more secure water supply for Sydney.
How much energy does the Plant use?
The Sydney Desalination Plant requires roughly 38 megawatts at full production and is 100 per cent powered by renewable energy.

The average energy needed to provide drinking water to one household is about the same as the energy used to run a household fridge.
What’s the impact on the environment?
Sydney Desalination Plant places a high priority on minimising any environmental impacts – both on land and in the water.

To support this, the Plant has put in place a world first stringent six-year marine environment monitoring program. The marine environment was monitored for three years before construction and three years after the Plant became operational. It demonstrated that the Plant has minimal effect on the marine environment.

On land, a third of the Plant site at Kurnell has been maintained as a conservation area. This area is protected, and native species of flora and fauna are regularly monitored. This includes a program to survey the numbers of grey-headed flying foxes and green and golden bell frogs in the area.