Renewable energy projects

100% Renewable Power for Council Electricity

As of July 2025, the City of West Torrens is powering its buildings, facilities and streetlights with 100% renewable energy. This exciting change comes through a partnership with four other councils: Port Adelaide Enfield, Gawler, Holdfast Bay, and Onkaparinga, working together under the Renew 5 banner to make a real difference for our communities and the environment.

For West Torrens, the switch means a reduction of over 350 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, an 11 per cent reduction in our overall footprint. It’s a practical step that helps us play our part in tackling climate change, while also supporting South Australia’s transition to cleaner, greener power.

Importantly, the renewable electricity we’ll be using is generated by a South Australian renewable energy project. That means our decision not only reduces emissions, but also supports investment in South Australia’s renewable sector.

Investing in our future

During the past few years we’ve invested in a number of renewable energy projects to help reduce our carbon footprint and save money on rising energy costs.

Sixteen of our buildings have been retrofitted with photovoltaic solar panel systems, which collectively generate more than 100,000 kilowatt hours of electricity every year (enough to supply 10 South Australian households for a whole year).

Most of this energy is used where the system is installed, but the excess is fed back into the mains grid. This excess is drawn on when we use more energy than the panels are generating, helping to save us money.

The Civic Centre is solar powered

Council’s Civic Centre building has one of the largest systems with 158 panels.

These panels generate almost 10 per cent of our electricity needs on a daily basis, helping us reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 tonnes each year.

As well as solar electricity, we’ve installed a number of solar hot water services on community buildings which save around 11.7 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

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