AusLeisure

A new gas-fired co-generation plant set to be installed at the Oasis Aquatic Centre in Wagga Wagga is expected to save more than $250,000 a year in power bills.

The project, which is jointly funded by the Federal Government's Community Energy Efficiency Program and a low interest loan from Low Carbon Australia, will enable the Centre to generate its own power onsite while providing an efficient heat source for the heating of its indoor pools.

It is expected that the plant will see the Centre's current annual energy expenditure slashed in half.

According to Oasis Aquatic Centre Manager Ben Creighton, the new equipment will provide a raft of benefits.

Creighton explains "the Oasis is upgrading to cleaner technology and equipment to help make significant inroads on reducing our carbon emissions and our energy use.

"The gas-fired generator will create 229kW of electricity for the Oasis and the engine will produce 358kW of thermal heat that we will use to heat our pools.

"People won't notice anything, but instead of a gas-fired boiler burning constantly, we'll be capturing heat off the engine (and) reducing our reliance on the grid.

"It will be a very effective way to heat the pools (and will) reduce our carbon emissions significantly."

The $780,000 plant was manufactured in the United Kingdom and its installation at Oasis should take between six to eight weeks to complete. Initial testing on the equipment will follow with the plant expected to be fully operational by October.

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