Waste-to-energy plant

Powers extra 1000 homes

WSN Environmental Solutions and joint venture partner LMS Generation will boost the export capacity of their waste-to-energy project at Eastern Creek Waste and Recycling Centre, providing green power for an extra 1000 homes.

The project currently comprises six 1.1 MW engines that are capable of exporting enough renewable energy to the NSW grid to power 6000 homes, however, this will increase to 7000 homes with the commissioning of a seventh engine in December 2009.

“This project prevents methane escaping into the atmosphere and generates renewable energy, so it provides a two-fold benefit,” said WSN Environmental Solutions CEO Ken Kanofski.

“Landfill gas capture is a crucial interim measure as we move towards more sustainable waste-processing technology.

“WSN sites have been generating green energy for over 13 years and, when the seventh generator is online, we will have the capacity to provide baseload electricity for a total of 37,000 homes.”

The plant began operating with five engines in May 2008. WSN and LMS had planned to phase in the remaining three engines of the eight-engine project over five years to 2014, however, WSN’s effective landfill gas capture has allowed the joint venture to commission the sixth and seventh engines much earlier than expected.

Kanofski said WSN sites’ export capacity would increase even further, with an eighth engine to be installed over the coming years as more biogas becomes available at the Eastern Creek facility and as WSN’s Ecolibrium Mixed Waste Facility at Macarthur Resource Recovery Park begins operating at full capacity.

“By 2014, WSN expects its network of sites to be exporting enough green electricity to the grid to supply up to 40,000 homes with year-round green power,” Kanofski said.

“Renewable energy is at the forefront of the fight against climate change. At full capacity, the eight generators at Eastern Creek are expected to abate 355,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year - the same as taking 84,000 cars off the road for a whole year.”

Methane from the biogas created during the breakdown of household waste in the Eastern Creek landfill will be combusted to create electricity, which is then supplied to the NSW energy grid.