Molendinar Landfill Gas Project

Molendinar Landfill Gas Project is a landfill gas project located in Molendinar, a suburb of the Gold Coast in South East Queensland. It was registered in July 2014 and operates within an unlisted area size at the local waste management facility.

Landfill gas projects involve the installation of gas collection infrastructure to capture methane-rich biogas generated by the decomposition of organic matter in the landfill. This captured gas is then combusted in a flare or used to generate renewable electricity. This standard process prevents potent methane from entering the atmosphere by converting it into less harmful carbon dioxide, whilst frequently providing reliable bioenergy.

The Molendinar area on the Gold Coast is characterised by urban, light industrial, and municipal land uses. The region features a humid subtropical climate with high rainfall, averaging approximately 1,300mm to 1,500mm annually. The local environment consists of a diversity of soil types including coastal sands, alluvial soils, and clay loams that support the surrounding coastal heaths and forested areas.

This project was historically transitioned from a revoked Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) method and continues to capture and combust gas generated from both legacy and non-legacy waste. The project was originally contracted by the Clean Energy Regulator in April 2017, and its abatement delivery contract (CAC873169) was successfully completed in June 2022. The project proponent, LMS Energy, is Australia's largest methane abatement company, partnering with local councils nationwide to turn municipal waste sites into viable sources of emissions reduction.