Borg Panels Energy and Greenhouse Reduction Project (Revoked)

The Borg Panels Energy and Greenhouse Reduction Project was an industrial energy efficiency initiative spanning two primary manufacturing facilities in New South Wales: one in Oberon, approximately 180km west of Sydney, and another in Somersby, 70km north of Sydney on the Central Coast. Registered in October 2015, the project operated under the Carbon Farming Initiative before being voluntarily revoked in April 2019.

The project utilized the Industrial Electricity and Fuel Efficiency methodology, which credits emission reductions achieved by upgrading or replacing energy-consuming equipment. For Borg Panels, a major manufacturer of joinery materials like Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) and particle board, this involved installing Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) on large dryer fans and pumps to optimize power usage. The project also focused on waste heat capture and the re-use of biomass (wood dust) to generate process heat, displacing fossil fuel consumption.

The Oberon facility is situated in a region defined by high-altitude forestry and grazing operations. At over 1,100 meters above sea level, the area experiences a cool climate with reliable rainfall, supporting the extensive pine plantations that supply the timber industry. The soils in this region are typically derived from granite and basalt, fertile enough to support the heavy vegetation required for forestry. Conversely, the Somersby site is located within a dedicated industrial estate on the Central Coast, characterized by a milder coastal climate and sandy loam soils typical of the Hawkesbury Sandstone geology.

Although the carbon project was revoked in 2019, Borg Panels has continued to pursue significant sustainability measures. Notably, the Oberon facility is now home to one of Australia's largest rooftop solar systems, a 10MW installation completed post-project, demonstrating a continued commitment to reducing the facility's carbon footprint beyond the life of this specific carbon credit project.