NI Water has completed a £2.3 million project to install three hydro turbines at Ballygomartin Water Pumping Station and the Breda and Purdysburn service reservoirs, in a move to boost energy efficiency and shrink its carbon footprint.

Backed by the Department for the Economy's Invest to Save funding within the 2021–2027 price control period, the schemes are among the few of their kind in the UK and Ireland. The turbines will act as the primary on-site power source, cutting reliance on grid electricity and exporting surplus renewable energy.

Across the three locations, expected generation is about 900 megawatt-hours (MWh) a year — roughly equivalent to the annual electricity use of around 360 typical UK households, based on Ofgem's 2,500 kWh benchmark.

Damien O'Mullan, Director of Transformation and Innovation at NI Water said: "As Northern Ireland's largest electricity user, the installations will help offset grid electricity use, and reduce costs and carbon emissions. By harnessing the power of the hydro turbines, we can generate clean, efficient energy to help deliver essential water services to our customers. At Ballygomartin, where around 3.5 million litres of water is pumped each day to Whiterock Upper Service Reservoir, the installation of the hydro turbine will provide a more energy efficient service for approximately 4,700 domestic and 600 non-domestic customers. "By making innovative use of existing infrastructure and resources, this investment demonstrates how collaboration across government can deliver practical benefits for our customers, communities and the environment. With funding support and effective partnership working, the project marks an important step in NI Water's journey to sustainably reduce our energy costs."

Katrina Duddy, Head of Energy Management at the Department for the Economy said: "This project demonstrates the practical value of investing in hydro power and working collaboratively across government. Hydro turbines capture energy from water already moving through NI Water's infrastructure, providing a reliable source of clean, on-site electricity without affecting the delivery of essential water services.

"Through the Department's Energy Invest to Save initiative, the project will reduce reliance on grid electricity, lower energy costs and carbon emissions, strengthen energy resilience and enable surplus renewable electricity to be exported to the grid - delivering lasting benefits for customers, communities and the environment."

The investment forms part of NI Water's Energy Reduce Use Programme, aligned with government public sector energy-efficiency targets. Local engineering specialist BSG was the main contractor, with Hydroplan as design lead supported by McAdam Design. At Ballygomartin, a 63 kW turbine is expected to self-power the pumping system and export excess renewable electricity back to the grid.