Darwin Landfill Gas Project

The Darwin Landfill Gas Project is a landfill gas capture and combustion operation located at the Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility, approximately 15km northeast of Darwin's city centre in the Northern Territory. Registered in August 2012, the project operates on the only licensed landfill in the Greater Darwin area, which receives over 180,000 tonnes of waste annually. The surrounding region is characterized by peri-urban development, defence land, and significant conservation reserves, including eucalypt woodlands and coastal wetlands.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Electricity Generation from Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology awards carbon credits for the capture and destruction of methane, a potent greenhouse gas generated by decomposing organic waste, that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. To earn credits, the project must collect the gas and combust it using an internal combustion engine to generate electricity, maintaining a destruction efficiency of at least 98%.

The Darwin region experiences a tropical savanna climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. It is classified as a high rainfall zone, receiving heavy monsoonal precipitation typically exceeding 1,500mm annually. The local soil profile is complex, consisting largely of Kandosols (red earths) and hydrosols (poorly drained clays) in the lower-lying wetland areas surrounding the facility.

LMS Energy, the project proponent, has partnered with the City of Darwin to operate this facility. Interesting features of the site include a 1.1 megawatt bioenergy facility capable of powering approximately 1,000 homes. Additionally, the Shoal Bay facility is notable for hosting a world-first "LEEF System" to treat PFAS-contaminated leachate, highlighting a broader commitment to environmental management beyond just carbon abatement.