Wollongong CMWM Power Generation Project (Revoked)

The Wollongong CMWM Power Generation Project (Revoked) was a Coal Mine Waste Gas operation located at Kembla Heights, approximately 8km south-west of the city of Wollongong in New South Wales. Registered in April 2016, the project was situated in the Illawarra region, an area historically defined by significant coal mining activity, water catchment protection, and escarpment forestry. The project area at the recorded coordinates sits near the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area, a region characterized by high rainfall and soils derived largely from Hawkesbury Sandstone and the Narrabeen Group, typically consisting of sandy loams and clays.

The project operated under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Coal Mine Waste Gas) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology credits the destruction of methane, a potent greenhouse gas released during coal mining, by capturing it and converting it into carbon dioxide and energy. Specifically, this project aimed to install and operate electricity production devices to combust fugitive methane from coal mine waste gas. By generating electricity from this waste gas, the project sought to reduce emissions while providing a productive energy source.

Despite its registration, the project faced significant hurdles. It was originally contracted under the Australian Government's emissions reduction auctions in November 2016 to deliver abatement. However, the contract was terminated or lapsed by May 2018. Subsequently, the project was revoked in September 2019 under section 30 of the CFI Rule, which typically indicates a voluntary revocation application by the project proponent, Our Energy Group Pty Limited. This revocation suggests that the planned electricity generation facility may not have proceeded to full commercial operation or that the proponent chose to withdraw from the scheme, potentially due to operational challenges at the host mine or economic feasibility issues.