Ballarat Landfill Gas Project

Ballarat Landfill Gas Project is a landfill gas electricity generation project located at the Ballarat Regional Landfill in Smythesdale, approximately 18 kilometers southwest of the major regional city of Ballarat, Victoria. Registered in February 2013, the project is operated by LMS Energy Pty Ltd in partnership with the City of Ballarat. The facility captures methane generated from decomposing waste, both legacy and non-legacy, and diverts it from entering the atmosphere.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Electricity Generation from Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology credits emissions reductions achieved by installing a system of wells and pipes to collect landfill gas (methane). Instead of being flared (burned off without energy recovery) or vented, the gas is combusted in a generator to produce renewable electricity, which is then fed into the local grid. This process converts methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into less harmful carbon dioxide while simultaneously displacing fossil-fuel-based power.

The Smythesdale and greater Ballarat region is characterized by a cool temperate climate with reliable annual rainfall averaging between 680mm and 700mm. The surrounding landscape supports mixed farming, primarily grazing and forestry operations. The soils in this area are geologically diverse, often featuring duplex soils with sandy loam topsoils over clay subsoils, as well as areas of Ferrosols (red clay soils) common to the Victorian Goldfields.

The project has successfully completed its initial carbon abatement contract (CAC362004) with the Australian Government, having met its delivery obligations for the contracted period starting in 2013. According to City of Ballarat reports, the partnership with LMS Energy has expanded methane capture at the site, with the facility generating approximately 10,846 MWh of renewable electricity annually for the Victorian grid. The project has transitioned through multiple methodology variations (2012, 2015, and 2021) to maintain compliance and continue crediting.