Waste-to-energy facility ramps up in Melbourne

Two Melbourne companies have teamed up to develop a modern waste-to-energy (WtE) and integrated resource recovery processing plant. The plant will deliver baseload renewable energy while recovering recyclable materials from waste.

Great Southern Waste Technology (GSWT) will be working with Repurpose It, which already runs a waste processing and recycling facility in Victoria, to develop the technology.

“We saw a terrific opportunity to combine the world-leading WtE technology exclusive we hold at GSWT with the local recovered waste success story, Repurpose It, to ensure even greater success in diverting waste from landfill while also removing over 240,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere,” said GSWT owner Craig Gilbert.

The waste processing plant will pre-sort commercial, industrial, household and other waste for recyclables, with any remaining end-of-life waste being processed through WtE gasification technology to produce electricity.

GSWT’s Chief Operating Officer, Lukas McVey, said the partnership will develop a fully enclosed WtE facility that will be able to process up to 200,000 tonnes of waste per year and generate about 130,000 MWh renewable baseload power to the grid. This is enough electricity to power over 15,000 homes for a year. The plant will use ENERGOS technology, having licensed it from Norway.

“By using this technology at our Epping plant, we’re confident we can reduce greenhouse emissions by about 240,000 tonnes per year while ensuring minimal waste goes to landfill,” McVey said.

“The small footprint and fully enclosed nature of Great Southern’s facilities means local communities can deliver tangible benefits to the environment and generate energy while maintaining the current amenity of the local area.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Chinnapong