Ballarat Landfill Gas Project

The Ballarat Landfill Gas Project is a waste sector project located at the Ballarat Regional Landfill in Smythesdale, approximately 20 kilometers southwest of the major regional city of Ballarat, Victoria. Registered in February 2013 by LMS Energy Pty Ltd, the project operates on a site managed by the City of Ballarat. The surrounding region of the Golden Plains Shire is characterized by rural land use, primarily consisting of grazing and mixed farming operations, alongside peri-urban development near the township of Smythesdale.

This project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Electricity Generation from Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology incentivizes the installation and operation of gas collection systems that capture methane generated by decomposing organic waste, both from legacy (pre-2012) and non-legacy sources. Instead of allowing this potent greenhouse gas to vent into the atmosphere, the captured gas is combusted in generators to produce renewable electricity, converting the methane into less harmful carbon dioxide in the process.

The Smythesdale area experiences a cool temperate climate with reliable winter-spring rainfall. The landscape sits on the fringe of the Victorian Volcanic Plains, featuring soils that are typically mottled brown sodosols and clays derived from basalt and sedimentary rock. These heavy clay subsoils are characteristic of the region and often support the pasture growth required for the local livestock industry.

The project has a long operational history, having transitioned through multiple methodology variations (2012, 2015, and 2021) to maintain compliance and crediting eligibility. Notably, the project's initial Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC362004) with the Australian Government was completed in April 2022. While this specific contract has concluded, the project remains registered and continues to generate abatement, potentially selling credits on the spot market or utilizing the electricity generated to contribute to the local grid.