Rivalea Corowa Module 5 Piggery Biogas Project

The Rivalea Corowa Module 5 Piggery Biogas Project is an Animal Effluent Management project located approximately 5km northwest of the town of Corowa in the Riverina region of New South Wales. Registered in January 2013, the project operates within the extensive Rivalea production facility, which is situated on the banks of the Murray River. The facility is part of Australia's largest pork production operation, which was acquired by JBS Pork Australia Pty Ltd in early 2022.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Animal Effluent Management) Methodology Determination 2019. This methodology incentivizes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by capturing methane generated from the anaerobic decomposition of pig manure. In standard piggeries, effluent is often stored in open uncovered ponds, releasing significant amounts of methane (a potent greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere. This project involves covering these anaerobic lagoons to trap the biogas. The captured gas is then combusted, often to generate renewable electricity and heat, converting the methane into carbon dioxide, which has a much lower global warming potential.

The Riverina region surrounding Corowa is a major agricultural hub characterized by a semi-arid to temperate climate, receiving an average annual rainfall of approximately 500mm to 600mm. The landscape is dominated by mixed farming, including winter cereal cropping and livestock grazing. The soils in this area are typically Red Chromosols (also known as red-brown earths) and Sodosols, which are common across the extensive riverine plains and are heavily utilized for agriculture despite their susceptibility to structural degradation.

The specific "Module 5" designation refers to a distinct section of the larger Corowa piggery complex. Public records indicate the project utilizes Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units (specifically 2G Avus units) to convert the captured biogas into electricity, supplying roughly 25% of the site's power requirements. The project successfully completed a carbon abatement contract (CAC102325) with the Australian Government, which was originally secured in a November 2015 auction.