A Western Australian council is developing a biogas formula at an old landfill site that it says will capture and destroy more than 800,000 cubic metres of methane a year.
Methane is a greenhouse fuel that forms when biological matter breaks down in landfills.
This is 28 times more harmful than carbon dioxide when it comes to trapping heat in the atmosphere, according to environmental company LMS Energy, which will hand over the task to Albany City Council, southwest of Perth.
The council says the 20-year contract with LMS will destroy up to 850,000 cubic metres of methane at its Hanrahan Road facility a year, the equivalent of taking 7,500 cars off the road a year or developing 300,000 trees in ten years.
“A series of wells will be drilled and installed at the landfill to extract destructive greenhouse gases such as methane,” says Jason Dockerill, customer group director at LMS Energy.
“A pipeline will then send the methane to LMS Energy’s industry-leading biogas flaring, where it will be safely destroyed.
“The torch will be designed and manufactured in-house by LMS. Without it, methane would basically be released into the atmosphere. “
Albany Mayor Greg Stocks said it would be the first time greenhouse fuel emissions would be captured at a site estimated to have an estimated lifespan of about 10 years.
“The city’s landfill receives 30,000 tons of waste each year, some of which is biological matter that will eventually decompose and produce methane,” said Mayor Stocks.
“We work together to reduce the environmental impact of waste. “
According to council documents dated Feb. 13, 2024, environmental regulations require the council to include a landfill fuel control formula in its landfill closure plan.
It would cost the City more than $1. 3 million to extract the fuel on its own.
LMS will pay the rent in cereals for its “substantial investment” in the construction and operation of the biogas buildings and infrastructure, which will revert to the council at the end of the contract.
The Department of Urban Planning, Territory and Heritage has given its consent in principle to the lease, subject to final approval by the Minister.
LMS owns and operates more than 60 biogas projects at some of Australia’s largest landfills, as well as projects in New Zealand and the United States.
This includes the Albury Renewable Energy Hub, owned and operated through LMS in partnership with Albury City Council. The facility was commissioned in 2013 and has an installed capacity of 1. 1 MW, plus an additional 1. 5 MW solar PV system.
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