Murray Irrigation
Project: Solar-Powered Desalination
Develop and integrate a renewable energy solution to pump saline groundwater and create freshwater for productive use.
Project outcome
Develop and integrate a renewable energy solution to extract and desalinate shallow groundwater in the Wakool-Tullakool Sub Surface Drainage Scheme (WTSSDS).
Achievable timeline
• Feasibility Study 2022
• Works complete by 2025
Renewables Integration
Reducing Salinity
Additional Environmental Outcomes
Key project benefits
- Within an existing successful groundwater extraction scheme in the Wakool-Tullakool Sub Surface Drainage Scheme (WTSSDS)
- Research collaboration leveraging innovative emerging renewable technology
- Potential low cost alternative to control shallow saline groundwater within the WTSSDS
- Contributes more water for productive use
- Long term protection of the environment, agriculture and communities
Integrated renewable energy
The Solar-Powered Desalination project will develop and integrate a renewable energy system to pump the saline water to existing ponds, then also to use renewable energy to create freshwater for productive use. A fit-for-purpose desalination plant could produce up to 10GL of productive water annually.
Wakool-Tullakool Sub Surface Drainage Scheme
The scheme is Australia’s largest saline groundwater interception scheme and plays an important role in protecting the land and nearby watercourses from
the effects of saline shallow watertables.
The scheme was constructed in the 1970s and 80s by the NSW Department of Water Resources and Public Works.
