Lucas Heights 2 Landfill Gas Project

Lucas Heights 2 Landfill Gas Project is a waste sector project located at the Lucas Heights Resource Recovery Park, approximately 30 kilometres southwest of the Sydney CBD in New South Wales. Registered on 12 December 2012, the project operates within a major waste management facility that covers roughly 125 hectares. The site is situated on the Woronora Plateau, bordered by the residential suburb of Barden Ridge and the bushland of Heathcote National Park and the Holsworthy Military Area.

The project operates under the Electricity Generation from Landfill Gas 2021 methodology. This process involves the installation of gas collection wells into the landfill to capture methane generated by decomposing organic waste. Instead of releasing this potent greenhouse gas into the atmosphere, it is piped to a dedicated power station where it is combusted to generate renewable electricity, which is then fed into the grid.

Environmentally, the Lucas Heights region is characterized by a temperate climate with high rainfall, averaging approximately 1,200mm annually. The local terrain sits on Hawkesbury Sandstone, producing soils that are typically sandy, acidic, and low in fertility, often described as yellow earths or sandy podzols. While the immediate site is heavily modified for industrial waste disposal, the surrounding region is primarily designated for conservation, recreation, and low-density residential use rather than traditional agriculture.

Operating for over a decade, the project is a significant renewable energy generator. The Lucas Heights II power station, operated by EDL, historically contributed a generation capacity of approximately 17MW. Recent industry announcements indicate a transition for the site's future operations, with the landfill owner (Cleanaway) forming a joint venture with LMS Energy in late 2024 to construct new bio-electricity infrastructure, potentially replacing the existing EDL facilities. The site is also notable for being adjacent to Australia’s only nuclear reactor, the OPAL multipurpose reactor at ANSTO.