Australian utilities develop renewable gas and emission reduction projects

New agreements and research initiatives in Australia are focusing on converting organic waste and wastewater into renewable energy resources while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In New South Wales, memoranda of understanding with Jemena have been signed to support renewable gas production in Forbes and Cowra. In Forbes, an agreement with Topsoil Organics aims to develop an anaerobic digestion facility capable of producing approximately 150 terajoules of biogas annually. In Cowra, Clean Core Development is planning a facility to produce over 275 terajoules of biomethane from agricultural residues. These projects aim to supply biomethane to industries that are difficult to electrify via existing gas networks.

Simultaneously, the Australian water sector is addressing methane and nitrous oxide emissions produced during wastewater treatment. Through the Water Research Australia ARC Linkage Project, 11 utilities are monitoring 21 wastewater treatment plants to better understand and mitigate these emissions. Facilities such as Sydney Water’s Malabar Water Resource Recovery Facility are already working to capture biogas generated during treatment to convert it into useful energy.