NI Water has completed a £2.3 million programme to install hydro turbines at Ballygomartin Water Pumping Station, Breda Service Reservoir and Purdysburn Service Reservoir, aimed at boosting energy efficiency and shrinking its carbon footprint.

Part-funded through the Department for the Economy's Invest to Save initiative, the scheme uses existing infrastructure to cut operational costs. The turbines, among the few of their kind in the UK and Ireland, will become the main source of power at each site, reducing demand on the grid while exporting surplus renewable electricity.

Across the three locations, the units are expected to produce around 900 megawatt-hours (MWh) annually, roughly equivalent to the yearly electricity consumption of about 360 typical UK households. 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 project forms part of NI Water's Energy Reduce Use Programme, supporting its broader sustainability goals and aligning with government public sector energy-efficiency targets.