Fuel Substitution Project (Revoked)

Fuel Substitution Project (Revoked) was a facilities-based carbon abatement project located at the former Carter Holt Harvey Pinepanels particleboard mill in Tumut, New South Wales. The site is situated approximately 100km west of Canberra and 80km southeast of Wagga Wagga. Registered in November 2016, the project operated for several years before being revoked in February 2023 following the closure of the facility and the subsequent liquidation of the proponent.

The project operated under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Facilities) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology is designed for large facilities that report under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme. It rewards projects that reduce emissions by improving energy efficiency or switching fuel sources. Specifically, this project focused on "process heat," likely substituting fossil fuel usage (such as natural gas or electricity) with biomass (wood waste) generated during the timber manufacturing process to power the mill's boilers and dryers.

The Tumut region is a significant hub for Australia's forestry industry, characterized by extensive softwood plantations (Radiata Pine) and cattle grazing. The environment is classified as a high rainfall zone, receiving approximately 900mm annually, which supports the dense forestry operations. The local landscape typically features texture-contrast soils such as Chromosols (Red Podzolics) and Kurosols, which consist of loamy topsoils overlying acidic clay subsoils.

The proponent, LQ88 (CHHPP) Pty Limited, was formerly known as Carter Holt Harvey Pinepanels Pty Limited. The project's revocation in 2023 coincides with the final administrative wind-up of the company, which entered voluntary liquidation in April 2022. The Tumut facility itself ceased production in February 2019, while other assets of the company (such as the Oberon facility) were sold to different operators, leaving this specific project attached to the closed site until its formal revocation.