In a partnership with Australian clean energy engineers LGI Limited, the ACT Government will capture harmful methane gas at the Mugga Lane landfill and convert it into reliable renewable energy: 50,000 Megawatt hours’ worth, or enough to power up to 10,800 homes every year.
An expansion project will establish two more 1-Megawatt gas-to-energy generators, an additional 12 Megawatts of battery storage, and a 20-Megawatt grid connection with Evoenergy.
“The addition of this new battery system will provide storage capacity and rapid dispatch of the renewable energy generated by the engines at times when the grid requires it most,” said Chris Steel, ACT Minister for Transport and City Services.
Over the past three years, the ACT Government has reduced 764,000 tonnes of emissions through its partnership with LGI, and captured more than 89 million m3 of biogas at Mugga Lane, generating 105 Gigawatt hours of renewable energy, Mr Steel said.
“[The] upgrades to the Mugga Lane site will allow us to go even further with our emission reductions,” Mr Steel said.
It is expected LGI will commence work on the expansion in the coming weeks, which will include all relevant development approvals.
“Emissions from landfills without biogas management systems can be a significant problem and can contribute up to 80 per cent of a local government’s carbon footprint,” said Adam Bloomer, LGI’s founder and managing director.
“The ACT Government’s carbon cutting approach of using proven, cost-effective technologies to capture and abate the harmful methane emissions from Mugga Lane and generate reliable, dispatchable (24/7) renewable energy is an example of what progressive governments can achieve by prioritising the environment.”
Evoenergy will construct new cables for the site and change the upstream network to cater for the 20MW of renewable generation, the company’s CEO, John Knox, said.
“The project will address technical challenges that can arise from this type of connection, and our commitment to creative engineering and delivery solutions will enable the net-zero emissions future and continued reliability of energy supply,” Mr Knox said.
Two full-time positions will be employed on the site, and local contractors will be engaged for everything from concreting to catering.
