Boodarie Waste to Energy and Materials Recovery Facility (Revoked)

The Boodarie Waste to Energy and Materials Recovery Facility (Revoked) is an Alternative Waste Treatment (AWT) project located at the Boodarie Industrial Estate, approximately 10 to 15 kilometers west of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Registered in September 2015 by New Energy Corporation Pty Ltd, the project proposed to divert mixed solid waste from local landfills to a new purpose-built facility. The intention was to process this waste using gasification technology to produce a combustible fuel substitute (Refuse Derived Fuel), thereby generating electricity and avoiding methane emissions associated with landfill decomposition.

Under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Alternative Waste Treatment) Methodology Determination 2015, projects of this type generate carbon credits by reducing the amount of organic waste decomposing anaerobically in landfills. The methodology requires rigorous monitoring of waste streams and the calculation of avoided emissions compared to a business-as-usual baseline. The facility was designed to process up to 255,000 tonnes of waste per annum and generate approximately 15-18 megawatts of power for the North West Interconnected System.

The environment surrounding Port Hedland is characterized by a semi-arid to arid climate with a distinct summer wet season often influenced by tropical cyclones. The landscape consists of sandy coastal plains, tidal mudflats, and Pindan soils (red sand-clays) typical of the Pilbara, supporting sparse vegetation like spinifex and acacia. While the wider region is known for pastoral grazing and heavy mining export operations, the specific project site is situated within a dedicated heavy industrial zone. The project was revoked in June 2020 under Section 30 of the CFI Rule, and Clean Energy Regulator records indicate that zero Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) were issued, suggesting the project did not reach the operational phase required to generate credits before its revocation.