CEFC commits $10 million for Landfill Gas Industries landfill energy expansion

10 July 2015

Queensland-based Landfill Gas Industries (LGI), one of Australia's specialist landfill gas service providers, will expand its waste-to-energy operations with up to $10 million finance from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). The finance will also support the company's delivery of carbon credits under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF). 

LGI was a successful bidder in the ERF first round and, with CEFC finance support, has developed two new abatement projects to participate in the next ERF auction. 

CEFC CEO Oliver Yates said that the CEFC was accelerating LGI's expansion, helping grow its ability to turn methane-emitting landfills into successful energy generators. 

"This finance for LGI demonstrates how the CEFC can provide upfront capital to projects bidding into the ERF, helping expand their scope and their capacity to invest in emissions reduction projects," Mr Yates said. 

The CEFC has the experience and the finance available for projects which meet the criteria for many of the method determinations available under the ERF including: 

• Commercial and public lighting energy efficiency
• Commercial building energy efficiency
• Industrial electricity and fuel efficiency
• Coal mine waste gas
• Land and sea transport
• Alternative waste treatment
• Landfill gas
• Wastewater treatment

"The CEFC is interested in talking to aggregators and intending bidders in the ERF to explore how we might be of assistance in helping their projects proceed," Mr Yates said.

The LGI expansion involves installing 6MW of electricity generation and supporting the operation of biogas-fired generators across landfill sites in Brisbane, Bunya, Caboolture, Dakabin, Maryborough in Southern Queensland and Gladstone in Central Queensland. 

The new generators are being placed at landfill sites where the company already operates flares and has an existing working relationship with the local government authority administering the facility.  LGI will build, own, operate and maintain the biogas-fired generators and sell the electricity generated into the grid.

Just under half of Australian waste ends up in more than 600 landfills across the country, resulting in significant greenhouse emissions. Landfill gas is generated for many  years after organic waste is deposited in landfill and begins to decompose. Generally, about 40 to 60 per cent of this gas is composed of methane.

LGI Managing Director Adam Bloomer said:  "Landfill tends to be the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions for Australian councils, accounting for the majority of the smaller, regional councils' total carbon footprint . With the CEFC's finance aiding our expansion and successful ERF bid, we're positioned to help councils tackle that issue."

About Landfill Gas Industries (LGI)

Landfill Gas Industries (LGI's) core business is offering custom designed landfill gas solutions of all capacities for landfill owners and operators. LGI delivers innovative extraction, flaring and monitoring system design, supply and construction and also builds, owns and operates biogas-fired power facilities.

Through its construction business, LGI has installed gas extraction and flaring systems for councils including Brisbane, Bundaberg, Surf Coast, Shellharbour, Kingborough, Gladstone, Dubbo, Fraser Coast, Moreton Bay, Clarence Valley and Hawkesbury, as well as private industry clients.

LGI uses GE Jenbacher gas engines as its preferred power generation equipment because of their high efficiency and engine durability.