Andrew Jennings, Executive Director Net Zero, Infrastructure & Operations, said the annual report results demonstrated the impact of pairing renewable electricity with the University's electrification strategy.
“The data confirms that transitioning to 100 per cent emissions-free electricity has delivered our single biggest reduction in energy emissions since we began our Net Zero journey,” Andrew said.
The results represent the first full year of reporting in which all electricity used across La Trobe campuses was from emissions-free renewable sources.
Annual report data shows electricity emissions fell from more than 24,500 tonnes of CO2-e in 2024 to just 119 tonnes in 2025 effectively eliminating the University's largest source of operational emissions and marking a major step forward in its pathway to Net Zero by 2029.
A key driver of the result was La Trobe's Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Iberdrola Australia. From 1 January 2025, all electricity used across the University's campuses became 100 per cent emissions-free through the agreement, which sources renewable electricity from the Cherry Tree Wind Farm in Seymour, Victoria.
“Electrification is a critical component of our Net Zero pathway but it only delivers its full climate benefit when it is powered by renewable electricity,” Andrew said.
“Our Power Purchase Agreement is the missing link that enables electrification at scale. It means we are not simply shifting emissions from one source to another — we are eliminating them.”
The University's electrification strategy focuses on replacing gas infrastructure with efficient electric alternatives across campuses and operations.
At the beginning of 2025, the Shepparton Campus became La Trobe's first all-electric campus. The University is now progressing further regional campus projects, with works to transition the Mildura Campus to fully electric expected to commence later this year.
Across Bendigo and Bundoora, targeted upgrades are progressively reducing gas connections and supporting more efficient campus operations.
Andrew said the transition to emissions-free electricity marked the next phase of decarbonisation across the University, building on major renewable energy investments including the 2.9-megawatt Solar Farm and 4.5-megawatt-hour battery installation at the Bundoora campus.
“The PPA allows us to confidently scale electrification projects knowing the electricity powering those systems is emissions-free,” he said.
“That is critical to reducing our operational emissions in a real and measurable way while future-proofing our campuses.”
The move to 100 per cent emissions-free electricity also exceeds the target set under the University's Sustainability-Linked Loan, which originally committed to achieving the milestone by 2028. The PPA forms a core part of La Trobe's Sustainable Finance Program.
