Central Coast No.2 CMWM Power Generation Project (Revoked)

Central Coast No.2 CMWM Power Generation Project (Revoked) was a Coal Mine Waste Gas (CMWM) project located in the locality of Jilliby, approximately 12km northwest of Wyong on the New South Wales Central Coast. The project was registered on April 21, 2016, by proponent Our Energy Group Pty Limited but was subsequently revoked in September 2019 following the termination of its carbon abatement contract.

The project operated under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Coal Mine Waste Gas) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology credits the destruction of fugitive methane emissions from active underground coal mines. Standard requirements involve installing devices, such as flares or electricity generators, to capture methane that would otherwise be vented into the atmosphere, converting it into carbon dioxide and energy. This specific project proposed installing a new electricity production device to combust the gas for power generation.

The Jilliby region is situated in the hinterland of the Central Coast, characterized by a mix of rural residential land, grazing, and significant forestry operations (Jilliby State Conservation Area and Olney State Forest). The area sits above the coal measures of the Sydney Basin, adjacent to the Mandalong Mine and the proposed Wallarah 2 Coal Project. The environment is classified as high rainfall with a warm temperate climate, and soils are typically sedimentary, consisting of sandstone-derived sandy loams and clays.

An interesting note regarding this project is its inclusion in a portfolio of similar initiatives by Our Energy Group Pty Limited, including "Hunter No. 2" and "Wollongong" projects. The proponent secured a contract with the Australian Government in November 2016 to deliver 145,000 tonnes of carbon abatement. However, the contract lapsed in May 2019 with zero abatement delivered, suggesting the project likely failed to reach financial close or secure necessary planning approvals before it was voluntarily revoked under Section 30 of the CFI Rule.