Town of Gawler Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2022-23

Council Operations

Emissions Summary

Figure 1: Sources of emissions for Council Operations 2022-23

Note: Scope 2 emissions are now shown using market based accounting, to reflect the renewable electricity that Council purchases from the grid.

Table 1: Total by accounting method

Electricity

There are two methods of calculating Greenhouse Gas emissions from electricity.

These are:

1. Location based accounting which reflects Scope 2 emissions based on which state or territory an entity is located.
2. Market based accounting which reflects the financial contributions and choices made towards renewable electricity which lowers Scope 2 emissions for consumers.

As the Federal Government has now published methods for market based reporting in Climate Active and the NGA Factors publications, the Town of Gawler has switched to market based accounting to report its progress but will continue to report the location based value for context and to demonstrate dual reporting in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 2 Guidance.

The change to market-based accounting will show in higher emissions in the short term until the Town of Gawler voluntary renewable purchasing increases.

By reporting electricity emissions based on market based accounting, the Town of Gawler avoids claiming emissions reductions that have already been paid for and claimed by others.

Table 2: Electricity consumption by type

Renewable Electricity Percentage (based on method adopted by Council)

Council claims the following components of renewable electricity use following market-based principles:

1. Mandatory renewable electricity already paid for and allocated to the grid (27.6% of imported grid electricity in 2022-23)
2. Additional voluntary GreenPower purchases of 112 MWh.
3. Renewable electricity produced and consumed on site of 113 MWh:

Renewable Electricity Disclosure Statement 2022-23

Council renewable electricity use is estimated at 38% based on its mandatory renewable electricity contribution for its imported grid electricity, additional voluntary GreenPower and on-site renewable electricity.

Council’s renewable electricity use is projected to increase in 2023-24 with the benefits of reduced public lighting consumption, other energy efficiency actions, increased solar production and an increase in the GreenPower voluntary renewable electricity percentage.

Gas

Table 3: Gas Consumption

Water

Total mains water consumption was 125,279 kL.

Table 4: Water Consumption

Transport Fuels

Table 5:Transport Fuel Consumption

Factors anticipated to impact emissions, consumption and/or costs from 2023-24

Electricity Emissions

Electricity emissions will continue to change significantly due to:

• The full demand reduction from the Public Lighting Project being applied to the full twelve month of the year.
• Increase in voluntary GreenPower purchase.
• Additional on-site solar generation – Gawler Elderly Centre and Gawler Visitor Information Centre.
• Continued changes in accounting methods and emission factors that are beyond the control of Council.

Scope 3 emissions

Scope 3 emissions are likely to increase subject to:

• Firming up of water related emissions assessment which may vary between provider advice and Trellis default emission factors.
• Quantifying and reporting additional resource related emissions such as air conditioning leakage, asphalt concrete, dolomite and other construction related emissions.

The Town of Gawler will progressively increase its coverage of Scope 3 emissions, accounting and update preliminary estimates with data based assessments through time.  Improvements are being made to improve emission estimates related to civil construction materials and air conditioning leakage to enable better reporting of these sources from July 2025.

Further changes:

Upward pressures on emissions include:

• Increase in Gawler Aquatic Centre electricity consumption.  The Gawler Aquatic Centre has shown a major increase in electricity use during the current 2023-24 season following the installation of an enclosed pressure filtration system.  Further investigations are being undertaken to confirm the exact causes and determine opportunities for this consumption to be reduced.
• Increasing quantity of assets – Public lighting and open space assets in newly developed areas being transferred into Council ownership.

Gawler Community Emissions Profile

IronBark Sustainability prepare community emissions profiles using a range of sources including data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and emissions factors from the federal Government NGA Factors publication.

Further information can be accessed via the following link to the Snapshot Gawler Emissions Profile.

Figure 2:  Town of Gawler Community Emissions Profile 2021-22

Please note that the Snapshot Emissions Profiles have used location-based emissions data relating to electricity emissions to date. This method reflects emissions reductions from the increasing proportion of renewable electricity generation in South Australia, supported by financial contributions by consumers from across all states and territories.