The first hydroelectric plant in Australia to generate power from treated sewage has begun operations at North Head sewage treatment plant in New South Wales.

The hydroelectric plant was installed as part of a $150M upgrade to North Head sewage treatment plant. It works by capturing energy from treated wastewater falling down a 60m shaft and will generate enough energy to power almost 1000 homes for a year.

The plant is one of three new hydroelectric plants the NSW Government is installing in Sydney Water’s water and sewerage networks as part of a $60M investment in renewable energy.

The new plant was built by Sydney Water’s energy partners WorleyParsons and Energetics and supported by the NSW Government’s Climate Change Fund.