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

Central Coast No.2 CMWM Power Generation Project (Revoked) is a coal mine waste gas project located in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, situated between Sydney and Newcastle near Gosford and Wyong. It was registered in April 2016, though its exact area size is unknown. The Central Coast region is characterized by a mix of coastal urban development, forestry, and historic underground coal mining operations.

The Coal Mine Waste Gas methodology involves projects that earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by capturing and destroying the methane component of coal mine waste gas. This is typically achieved through flaring, flameless oxidation, or, as intended in this project, operating new electricity production devices that combust methane to generate power, preventing a highly potent greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere and displacing more carbon-intensive grid electricity.

The local Central Coast environment experiences high rainfall, generally receiving over 1,100mm annually. Soils in the region vary significantly, often featuring coastal sandy loams, reactive clays, and sandstone-derived soils depending on proximity to the ocean or the hinterland.

The project was originally contracted to deliver emissions reductions to the Commonwealth Government, notably being discussed in a 2017 Senate Estimates hearing (Question No. 225) as the sole industrial fugitives project contracted in the fifth Emissions Reduction Fund auction. However, its carbon abatement contract (CAC295639) lapsed or was terminated in May 2019 without delivering any ACCUs. Consequently, the project itself was officially revoked in September 2019 under section 30 of the CFI Rule.