Millar Road Landfill Gas Power Generation Facility

Grid-connected, renewable
Location: Rochingham WA

The site

Methane-rich gas is produced by decomposing organic waste from within the landfill site at Millar Road. This project involves the extraction and combustion of landfill gas to generate electricity.

Technology

The gas is extracted from the landfill through an array of wells interconnected by a network of buried pipes. A blower is used to actively draw the landfill gas into the extraction system. Adjustments made to the blower and the individual wells facilitate the efficient operation of the extraction and combustion system.

Two GE Jenbacher generators run on landfill gas with each generator connected via an integrated 415 v circuit panel to a 22 kV step-up transformer. High voltage electricity is exported to the grid from the transformers. The two shunt reactors are fitted to the plant to limit voltage rise on the grid thus maximising export ability. The generators are located in an acoustically lined building that also houses the control room and workshop/store in separate rooms. The building and remaining plant are enclosed within a fenced compound. The station can be remotely monitored and controlled.

"The installation of the power station will drastically reduce greenhouse emissions over the course of the next 10 years, providing a safer and cleaner environment for future generations."
Rockingham City Mayor,Barry Sammels

Energy purchase and supply

The plant is expected to produce approximately 12 GWh of electricity per annum. Power generated from the project is sold to WA Power Exchange under long term agreement.

The generator operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The power station is an accredited generator under the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) Scheme & the Green Power Scheme. The generation facility is connected to the Western Power Corporation's distribution system. AGL has the rights to the gas extracted from the landfill.

Environmental impact

The extraction and combustion of landfill gas prevents its escape into the atmosphere and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Utilising the gas produced in the landfill to generate electricity means AGL is also displacing electricity traditionally sourced from fossil fuels. The project is expected to save approximately 45,000 tonnes per annum of greenhouse gas emissions.