The Turnbull Government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), is supporting the conversion of waste to energy at an abattoir in New South Wales in an effort to reduce both waste and the abattoir’s power bills.
More than $2 million in funding has been provided to energy provider ReNu Energy to design, construct, own and operate a biogas facility at the existing Southern Meats’ abattoir in Goulburn.
“Disposing abattoir waste is a major environmental challenge and processing and storing meat is an energy intensive business,” Minister Frydenberg said.
“That’s why this project is win-win, it helps reduce the need to dispose of waste from the abattoir and it provides Southern Meats with a more affordable source of energy.”
The $5.75 million project includes construction of a covered lagoon where an anaerobic digestion process produces biogas by biologically breaking down effluent.
The facility will produce 3800 MWh of electricity per year through treating and transferring the biogas to two 800 kW dual fuel generators.
The lagoon can store biogas to be used during times of peak electricity consumption during the manufacturing process.
The generators are also able to contribute to minimising the use of electricity from the grid when prices spike during times of peak demand, through the ability to supplement biogas with mains gas.
The abattoir uses around 20,000 KWh of electricity every day.
“The Turnbull Government recognises the importance of waste management in Australia as well as the importance of energy affordability for Australian households and businesses,” Minister Frydenberg said.
“Conversion of waste into energy is one innovative way for us to help combat the challenges associated with both these issues.”
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