Drysdale Landfill Gas Project

The Drysdale Landfill Gas Project is a landfill gas (LFG) capture and electricity generation project located at the Drysdale Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre, approximately 20 kilometers east of Geelong on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria. Registered in February 2013, the project operates on a site covering approximately 64 hectares.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Electricity Generation from Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology rewards project developers for installing infrastructure to capture methane, a potent greenhouse gas released by decomposing organic waste, and combusting it to generate renewable electricity. Without such intervention, this gas would typically vent into the atmosphere or be flared without energy recovery.

The Bellarine Peninsula region is characterized by a temperate climate with moderate rainfall, typically averaging around 650mm to 700mm annually. The local terrain generally consists of sandy loams and clay soils, supporting a mix of agricultural land uses such as grazing and viticulture, alongside growing residential developments.

A key feature of this project is the long-term partnership between the proponent, LMS Energy, and the City of Greater Geelong. The Drysdale Renewable Energy Facility reportedly generates enough electricity to power approximately 1,200 homes and prevents roughly 35,000 tonnes of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere each year. As the landfill approaches the end of its operational life, the site is the subject of extensive rehabilitation planning to transform it into community parkland and conservation areas while gas capture operations continue.