Sun Metals Pneumatic Conveyor System Replacement (Revoked)

Sun Metals Pneumatic Conveyor System Replacement (Revoked) is an industrial energy efficiency project located approximately 15km south of Townsville, Queensland. Situated within the Sun Metals Zinc Refinery in the suburb of Stuart, the project was registered in November 2016 and operated under the Carbon Farming Initiative before being voluntarily revoked in June 2020. The project site sits within the Townsville State Development Area, a zone dedicated to heavy industry and manufacturing, flanked by the Cleveland Bay coast and conservation reserves.

The project operated under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Industrial Electricity and Fuel Efficiency) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology credits reductions in emissions achieved by improving the energy efficiency of existing equipment, such as motors, boilers, or in this case, material handling systems. Specifically, this project aimed to reduce electricity consumption by modifying or replacing a pneumatic conveyor system used in the zinc refining process.

The Townsville region experiences a tropical savanna climate characterized by hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters. The area receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 1100mm, with the vast majority falling between January and March. The terrain on the coastal plain where the refinery is located typically features complex soil profiles, often consisting of solodic soils or cracking clays derived from alluvial deposits.

Sun Metals is notable for being the second-largest single consumer of electricity in Queensland. While this specific carbon project was revoked, the proponent has since aggressively pursued decarbonization through other means, including the construction of a 124MW solar farm to support its goal of producing "Green Zinc" made entirely with renewable energy.