Central Coast CMWM Power Generation Project (Revoked)

Central Coast CMWM Power Generation Project (Revoked) is a coal mine waste gas project located in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, roughly 40km south of Newcastle and near the town of Wyong. It was registered on April 15, 2016, with an unknown project area size.

Coal mine waste gas projects involve capturing the methane component of fugitive emissions from coal mines and destroying it, often through flaring or, as in this case, electricity generation. By combusting the waste gas, the methane (which is a highly potent greenhouse gas) is converted to carbon dioxide, significantly reducing its global warming potential compared to venting it directly into the atmosphere. Standard requirements for this methodology dictate that proponents must install specific gas destruction devices, continuously meter the volume and methane concentration of the gas combusted, and calculate net abatement by factoring in baseline emissions and any additional energy consumed by the project equipment.

The Central Coast and nearby Lake Macquarie areas are historically known for extensive underground coal mining operations, power generation facilities, coastal native bushland, and localized agriculture and grazing. The region is classified as a high-rainfall coastal climate. The local soils found in this eastern part of NSW are typically Chromosols and Dermosols, which are characterized by a distinct texture contrast between the topsoil and the heavier clay subsoils.

The project's intended activities involved installing and operating a new electricity production device to capture and combust the methane component of the mine's waste gas. Following registration, the project's proponent, Our Energy Group Pty Limited, secured a carbon abatement contract (CAC941368) in November 2016 to deliver emissions reductions to the Commonwealth. However, the contract ultimately lapsed or was terminated by May 2019. As a result, the project was officially revoked in September 2019 under section 30 of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015.