Stapylton Green waste to energy power plant

Grid connected, distributed generation, renewable
Location: Stapylton, QLD

The site

The plant is located at Stapylton, Gold Coast, mid way between Gold Coast and Brisbane. The site is in an area of established power infrastructure and heavy industrial land zoning.

Technology

The plant utilises Fluidised Bed Combustion (FBC) technology to combust non-native wood waste, branches and tree trimmings at extremely high temperatures. FBC combusts waste material from a variety of sources with various moisture levels. Steam created from the combustion drives a Westinghouse turbine. Fuel for this plant is supplied locally in accordance with a long-term Fuel Supply Agreement. Fuel is transported to the site, weighed, measured for moisture content and stored in the holding shed. The fuel storage shed holds around two to four weeks of fuel reserve. A conveyor transfers the fuel and loads it into FBC.

"This is not just a thing of the future, it is clean energy and
good for all of all of us. I congratulate them for making this possible"

Councillor Dawn Crichlow, City of Gold Coast, Chair - International Relations Committee

Energy purchase and supply

The plant is expected to produce 30 GWh of electricity per annum, which is sold to Energy Australia under a long-term power purchase agreement. The generator is registered as an unscheduled generator within the National Electricity Market. The plant is an accredited generator under the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) Scheme, Green Power Scheme and NSW Retailer Greenhouse Benchmarks Scheme (pending). The plant is connected to the 11 kV Energex distribution grid.

Environmental impact

The project is expected to save 30,000 tonnes per annum of greenhouse gas emissions. The FBC process enables signifi cantly lower emissions and by-products. The plant is air-cooled, thus eliminating the need for large volumes of cooling water.

Future outlook

Green Pacific Energy is planning construction of four further 20 MW green waste to energy power plants following commissioning of the 5 MW plant at Stapylton.