Caloundra Landfill Gas Project

The Caloundra Landfill Gas Project is a waste-to-energy initiative located at the Caloundra Landfill on Pierce Avenue in Bells Creek, Queensland. The site sits approximately 5 to 7 kilometers southwest of the main Caloundra town center on the Sunshine Coast. Originally registered in December 2013, the project operates under the Electricity Generation from Landfill Gas methodology. It currently utilizes an 850KW to 1MW Jenbacher engine to capture and combust methane, feeding renewable electricity directly into the local grid.

The project involves the active extraction of biogas (methane) from decomposing waste cells via a network of wells and pipes. Under the methodology, the proponent must measure the amount of methane captured and destroyed that would have otherwise been released into the atmosphere. This specific method requires the gas to be used for electricity generation rather than just flaring. The generated power, approximately 7,000 to 9,000 megawatt-hours annually, is enough to supply around 1,200 homes, effectively displacing fossil-fuel-based grid energy.

Situated in the Sunshine Coast region, the project area experiences a subtropical climate characterized by high rainfall, particularly in the summer months. The local terrain at Bells Creek typically consists of coastal alluvial soils, ranging from sandy loams to clays, which are common in the region's coastal lowlands. While the immediate site is dedicated to waste management, the surrounding landscape is a mix of light industrial developments, peri-urban residential estates, and remnant coastal vegetation.

An interesting feature of this project is its role in the Sunshine Coast Council’s broader sustainability goals. The council became the first in Australia to offset 100% of its electricity consumption, and this facility contributes significantly by removing the equivalent of thousands of cars' emissions from the road each year. The project is a partnership where LMS Energy designed and built the facility at no cost to the council, operating it to generate revenue through carbon credits and electricity sales while paying royalties to the local government.