Sewage gas providing green energy

Methane gas from Glenfield Sewage Treatment Plant is being converted to green energy under new technology being rolled out at sewage treatment plants across Greater Sydney, NSW Minister for Water, Phil Costa has announced.

Minister Costa said an electricity-producing cogeneration plant is now operating at the site, one of eight across Greater Sydney to use state-of-the-art combustion technology to convert gas into green electricity.

“We’re investing $25 million on new cogeneration engines to convert our waste into valuable green energy,” Costa said.

“The eight cogeneration projects will cut carbon emissions by about 48,000 tonnes a year, which is the equivalent of taking about 12,000 cars off the road.

Minister Costa was joined by the Member for Macquarie Fields, Andrew McDonald, to turn on the new state-of-the-art combustion engine.

“Methane gas produced at our sewage treatment plants can be a valuable by-product if converted to green energy,” Dr McDonald said.

“By investing in new technology like green energy, we can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our electricity costs.

“Once converted, this green energy is used to provide around 30% of energy to the sewage treatment plant.

“The cogeneration plant at Glenfield alone will cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 3500 tonnes per year, the equivalent of taking over 800 cars off the road.”

Minister Costa said renewable energy generation is a key part of Sydney Water’s commitment to become carbon neutral for energy use by 2020.

“Cogeneration engines are now operating at Bondi, Glenfield, Liverpool, Warriewood, Wollongong, Malabar, Cronulla and North Head sewage treatment plants.

“This will help offset the traditionally energy-intensive process of transferring and treating water and waste water.”