Building a future flush with renewable gas
Construction has started on a $16 million project that will turn waste flowing to Australia’s largest wastewater treatment plant into ‘carbon-neutral’ gas for use in Sydney homes and businesses.
The Malabar Biomethane project, co-funded by Jemena and ARENA, will be the first in Australia to blend biomethane directly into the gas network. Production is scheduled to commence by the end of the year. Initial capacity of 95 Terajoules (TJ) of gas per year will be enough gas to meet the needs of approximately 6,300 homes.
Jemena’s General Manager Renewable Gas, Peter Harcus, said biomethane has the potential to play a huge role in meeting Australia’s net-zero emissions targets, can help drive a faster and more cost-effective energy transition, and can create new jobs and industries.
The Malabar Biomethane project is expected to remove 5,000 tonnes of carbon, and potentially 11,000 tonnes if scaled up to its full potential.
According to ARENA, the bioenergy sector will enhance Australia’s fuel security and contribute to around $10 billion in extra GDP per year. It would create 26,200 jobs, reduce emissions by about 9% and divert an extra 6% of waste from landfill.
The $16 million Malabar Biomethane project is one of Jemena’s suite of renewable gas initiatives. The Western Sydney Green Hydrogen Hub began blending green hydrogen into the Jemena Gas Network in November last year.
Read more
First hydrogen trial for NSW gas users
