Earth Day 2026: Powering water security with renewable energy

In this blog, Iftekhar Omar, General Manager Strategy and Operations, and Louise Tsang, ESG and Compliance Officer, discuss what sustainability means in practice at the Plant, why renewable energy is such an important part of the story, and how the team is continuing to improve performance for the future.

What kinds of changes have had the biggest sustainability impact at the Plant?

Iftekhar Omar, General Manager Strategy and Operations:

There are a few layers to it. Some of the work is very practical and operational, including looking at energy efficiency and how the Plant performs day to day. The team is always working to optimise efficiency at the Plant. For example, we recently implemented a project to extract more desalinated water in the first pass of our two-stage reverse osmosis membrane process, so we use less energy to produce drinkable water. This avoided approximately 2,300 MWh of energy use, about the same as 450 typical households would use each year.

Louise Tsang, ESG and Compliance Officer:

What’s important is not just making improvements but being clear about what those improvements mean for the Plant and how we continue to innovate to deliver sustainable outcomes.

Because of the relatively clean seawater we draw from Botany Bay, we actually generate a very small amount of waste, which is good. However, the team is continuously looking for ways to minimise waste and energy use, including carefully managing chemical use and process volumes to make the Plant more efficient.

How does the renewable energy arrangement fit into the Plant’s broader sustainability story?

Iftekhar Omar, General Manager Strategy and Operations:

It’s a big part of the story, but not the only part. People are understandably interested in where the power comes from, and in our case, that power is sourced from renewable energy generated in NSW.

When the Plant was first established, we also committed to the development of a large-scale wind farm to supply us with energy. The Sydney Desalination Plant was one of the first operations of its size to do so, which we are really proud of.

It has helped create a blueprint for other large energy users to follow. It shows how essential infrastructure can be used to support cleaner energy. The wind farm now services several other large industrial operations, which wouldn’t have been possible without the Sydney Desalination Plant’s commitment to it.

How do you make sustainability improvements while keeping the Plant running reliably?

Louise Tsang, ESG and Compliance Officer:

A plant like the Sydney Desalination Plant has to run in a very considered way, so sustainability can’t be treated as something separate from operations. It needs to be built into planning, maintenance and the way decisions are made.

The good thing is that operational discipline helps us drive sustainability improvements. Whether it’s looking at how systems are managed or how resources are used, the goal is to be efficient and responsible at the same time.

There’s often public curiosity around desalination and energy use. What’s most important for people to understand?

Iftekhar Omar, General Manager Strategy and Operations:

The key message is that desalination is an important part of Sydney’s water security, and we’ve worked hard to make sure that service is delivered responsibly.

People may still assume that desalination automatically means high environmental impact, but the reality is more nuanced. The fact that the Plant is powered by renewable energy changes the conversation. It shows that essential infrastructure can evolve.

For example, by purchasing renewable energy, last financial year we avoided over 40,000 tons of carbon emissions. That’s about the same as avoiding the annual carbon emissions from 15,000 petrol powered cars.

It doesn’t mean there are no challenges, but it does mean we’re making meaningful choices that reduce the Plant’s environmental footprint.

As part of our broader ESG strategy, we’re also reviewing our supply chain and the chemicals we use to treat water at the Plant, to ensure we are being as responsible as possible. As a key resource for the community, we are committed to serving the community in a way that people can be proud of.

What are the next big priorities on the sustainability roadmap over the next 1–3 years?

Iftekhar Omar, General Manager Strategy and Operations:

For me, it’s the combination of purpose and progress. We’re delivering something essential for Sydney, and we’re doing it in a way that reflects where the energy sector is heading. That’s a strong position to be in and gives me confidence in the future of the Plant.

We are focused on delivering against our promises to continue using 100% renewable energy and achieving net zero across our supply chain by 2050.

Louise Tsang, ESG and Compliance Officer:

Sustainability is now embedded in how we think. It’s not just a separate initiative. It’s part of the way the Plant operates, communicates and plans for the future.

How does the Plant bring the community along on its sustainability journey?

Louise Tsang, ESG and Compliance Officer:

Our partnership with Veolia, our Operations and Maintenance contractor. The partnership includes a range of biodiversity initiatives on site that engage local stakeholders and allow the Plant to give back to community and country.

We believe it’s really important to help support biodiversity and sustainability in the area where we operate, and to continue finding ways to create positive environmental outcomes beyond water production alone.

A sustainable future for essential infrastructure

The Sydney Desalination Plant’s sustainability journey is a reminder that critical infrastructure and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. By combining operational efficiency with a 100% renewable power supply, the Plant is helping to deliver water security for Sydney in a way that is future-focused, transparent and aligned with broader sustainability goals.

This Earth Day 2026, we’re proud to highlight the role renewable energy and sustainable operations play in powering resilient infrastructure for the communities that rely on it.

Learn more about SDP's sustainability initiatives

Celebrating World Water Day 2026 – From ocean to tap – where Sydney Desalination Plant fits into Sydney’s water story

World Water Day is a chance to appreciate where our water comes from, recognise the value of resilient infrastructure, and acknowledge the people who make it possible.

At the Sydney Desalination Plant, we’re proud to be part of Sydney’s wider water supply network, helping turn seawater from the Tasman Sea into high-quality drinking water for a growing city.

19 March 2026

Fact versus Fiction: Unpacking the truth about the Sydney Desalination Plant

Sydney Desalination Plant is designed as a safeguard to ensure Sydney has a resilient water supply. Yet, for all its strategic importance, the Plant is often misunderstood.

We've spoken with Matt Blaikie, General Manager Business Optimisation, from the Sydney Desalination Plant to get the real story and dismantle any misconceptions about the Plant.

24 February 2026

Spotlight on Rumbidzai Shamhu: Engineering as the technical backbone of Sydney Desalination Plant

To mark the International Day of Women & Girls in Science 2026 we sat down with one of SDP's engineers Rumbidzai Shamhu. Reflecting the theme of combining AI, social science, STEM and finance, she argues inclusive, high-performing infrastructure depends on systems thinking, risk awareness, and long-term investment decisions.

11 February 2026

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 owned by Utilities Trust of Australia, which is managed by Morrison.

Utilities Trust of Australia is an Australian open-ended core infrastructure fund for institutional investors with a long-term investment horizon.

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.