In line with our commitment to the Greenhouse Challenge, UNSW recently finalised the purchase of a significant quantity of Green Power, largely sourced from Black Liquor.¹

Green Power is electricity generated from clean - renewable sources such as the sun, wind, water and organic matter. It is a clean energy alternative that makes it easy for everyone to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions at home and work. Most people do not realise that over 90% of their electricity is generated by burning coal. This creates greenhouse gas pollution that contributes to global warming and climate change.

Black Liquor is a mixture of organic and inorganic solids partially dissolved in solution. “Our” Black Liquor is obtained from lignin from softwood fibres consumed in Visy's new Pulp and Paper Mill at Tumut in NSW.

The Mill utilises this by-product as a clean burning fuel in a cogeneration system, increasing the energy efficiency in the pulping process. All softwood used in this process is sourced from sustainably managed Radiata Pine plantation. The electricity output from the Visy Mill at Tumut has been approved by SEDA² as "new" green energy under the National Green Power Accreditation Scheme.

The purchase of 1,800 MWh of Green Power for this year makes UNSW one of the largest Green Power customers in the country, and qualifies us to use the National logo.

How do you benefit? Buying this amount of Green Power represents a saving to the environment of more than 1,600 Tonnes of CO2e and is the equivalent of taking more than 300 cars of our roads.

Learn more about Green Power by visiting: www.Greenpower.com.au

¹ A small portion of our Green Power comes from Wind, Solar and Hydro. ² The Sustainable Energy Development Authority of NSW.