Making Waves In Victorian Climate Innovation
The Allan Labor Government is tackling climate change impacts with bold, forward-thinking solutions – supporting innovation in the water sector through the annual Victorian Water Minister’s Climate Innovation Challenge.
Minister for Water Gayle Tierney today launched the 2025 challenge at the Intelligent Water Networks’ Member Conference – encouraging water professionals to develop new solutions to climate change impacts in the sector.
The annual competition is led by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and the Intelligent Water Networks and is open to all Victorian water corporations to compete for a total prize pool of $280,000.
Overall, 2025 has been a very dry year for Victoria, with rainfall so far lower than any other this century – it’s why the Labor Government has increased funding this year to encourage bigger, more complex and collaborative projects.
Smart ideas to for adapting our water systems to be more climate resilient are more important than ever, with water corporations encouraged to reduce the effects of climate change or transform obstacles within the sector into new opportunities.
The last two years of the challenge have awarded funding to a range of projects, from technology solutions to innovative environmental approaches to help water systems adapt to changing climate conditions.
Last year’s winner of the challenge was South East Water, in partnership with RMIT University, for their plan to co-produce green hydrogen and oxidant from direct solar radiation.
The winning project proposed using recycled water to separate hydrogen and oxygen to generate green hydrogen. This world-first method, which harnesses power from the sun, can be installed on a floating modular platform and integrated into existing infrastructure.
Victoria’s water corporations are also leading the way on renewables, on track to be powered with 100 percent renewable energy by the end of the year. This is a major step towards achieving net zero.
To enter, water corporations can visit, climateinnovationchallenge.org.au
As stated by Minister for Water Gayle Tierney
“This challenge has encouraged great collaboration across the sector, resulting in cutting edge technology solutions and the development of innovative environmental approaches across the sector.”
“By funding innovations that drive meaningful change, we are aiming to strengthen the water sector’s ability to adapt to our changing climate.”
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/250728-Making-Waves-In-Victorian-Climate-Innovation-.pdf