Abattoir AD plant starts production

An anaerobic digester and biogas treatment plant at an Australian abattoir has commenced commercial production.

According to a statement from ReNu Energy, the independent power producer who’ll operate the facility, revenue flow from the Goulburn Bioenergy Project has commenced and will ‘ramp up’ as biogas production increases.

Located at the Southern Meats abattoir in Goulburn, New South Wales, the Goulburn Bioenergy Project includes an anaerobic digester, which is supplied with wastewater from the facility, a biogas treatment plant, two 800kW dual fuel (natural gas and biogas) Caterpillar generators and electrical interconnection to the facility.

Electricity generated is supplied to the facility at peak times of the daily billing cycle to reduce the facility’s overall electricity costs.

“The commercial operation of the Goulburn Bioenergy Project is a significant milestone for ReNu Energy and for the bioenergy sector in Australia,” said Chris Murray, managing director ReNu Energy.

“The project will supply approximately 4,000 MWh of energy annually, representing over 50% of the Facility’s power consumption and a significant reduction in energy costs and carbon emissions for our customer, Southern Meats.”

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) awarded a $2.1 million (€1.3 million) grant to the project. $1.4 million of that amount has already been received, with the conditions precedent for the next milestone payment of $0.68 million expected to be met in March 2018.

ReNu Energy owns and operates the project under a build own operate maintain (BOOM) model, while Southern Meats purchases the electricity supplied under a 20 year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).