Lucas Heights 2B Landfill Gas Project

The Lucas Heights 2B Landfill Gas Project is a waste sector project located at the Lucas Heights Resource Recovery Park, approximately 30km southwest of the Sydney CBD in New South Wales. Registered in August 2013, the project operates within the boundary of one of Sydney's largest waste management facilities, situated near the suburbs of Menai and Barden Ridge. The surrounding region is characterized by a mix of residential development and significant bushland areas, including the adjacent Holsworthy Military Area and Heathcote National Park.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Electricity Generation from Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology rewards project proponents for capturing methane, a potent greenhouse gas generated by decomposing organic waste, and combusting it to generate renewable electricity. Rather than flaring the gas or allowing it to escape into the atmosphere, this project channels the captured landfill gas into reciprocating engines. The facility is operated by EDL LFG (NSW) Pty Ltd, while the landfill site itself is owned by Cleanaway (previously SUEZ).

Environmentally, the site lies within the Sydney Basin, a region typically experiencing high rainfall (averaging over 1000mm annually). This climate necessitates rigorous management of leachate (liquid runoff) and stormwater, as noted in site environmental reports. While the natural soil profile of the area is derived from Hawkesbury Sandstone, the immediate project area is a highly engineered landfill environment involving deep waste cells and capping layers designed to optimize gas capture.

The "2B" designation likely refers to a specific expansion or reporting phase within the broader Lucas Heights II operation. EDL reports that the combined Lucas Heights power stations have a generation capacity of approximately 21 MW, capable of powering over 17,000 homes annually. Notably, the project has successfully completed its carbon abatement contract (CAC403360) with the Australian Government as of September 2022, having transitioned through multiple legislative methods since its original inception under the Carbon Farming Initiative.