Blantyre Methane Digestion Project

The Blantyre Methane Digestion Project is an agricultural methane destruction project located, according to public documentation, near Young in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales. Although the specific coordinates provided for this analysis (-34.44, 150.61) point to a location near Pheasants Nest and Bargo (approximately 75km southwest of Sydney), the proponent Blantyre Farms is widely recognized for its operations in the Young district, approximately 250km further west. Registered in October 2012, the project was a pioneering initiative in the Australian pork industry, designed to capture greenhouse gases from intensive livestock operations.

The project operates under the Destruction of Methane Generated from Manure in Piggeries methodology. This involves covering anaerobic effluent lagoons to trap biogas, specifically methane, generated during the decomposition of pig manure. Instead of releasing this potent greenhouse gas into the atmosphere, the system captures it and combusts it via a generator or flare. This process converts the methane into carbon dioxide (which has a significantly lower global warming potential) and generates renewable electricity to power the farm, with excess energy often exported to the grid.

The region surrounding the primary Blantyre Farms operation in Young is characterized by a "warm-summer temperate" climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 660mm, largely falling in winter and spring. The area is renowned for its specific soil profiles, predominantly Red Earths and Red Chromosols (often referred to locally as "Young red soils"), which are well-drained and highly fertile. These environmental conditions support the region's diverse land use, which includes intensive livestock grazing, broad-acre cropping (wheat and canola), and significant horticulture, particularly cherry orchards for which the town is famous.

Notably, Blantyre Farms was the first piggery in Australia to be certified under the Renewable Energy Target (RET) for its biogas system. Beyond carbon credits, the farm is celebrated for its circular economy approach; it supplements pig feed with waste products from food manufacturers (such as dairy and waste confectionery), diverting thousands of tonnes of waste from landfill annually. The project has been highly successful, reportedly reducing the farm's carbon footprint by 95% compared to the average producer and securing the farm's energy independence. The project's crediting period under the specific contract code CAC252285 concluded in 2022.