Gelita Beaudesert Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction Project

Gelita Beaudesert Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction Project is an Industrial and Commercial Emissions Reduction project located at Josephville, near Beaudesert, just over an hour south of Brisbane in Queensland. Registered in December 2020, the project footprint covers an unknown area as it is entirely confined to a specific industrial manufacturing facility rather than a geographic land parcel.

Industrial and Commercial Emissions Reduction (ICER) projects involve reducing emissions from industrial and commercial processes by replacing, modifying, or augmenting existing emissions-producing equipment. Standard requirements mandate that proponents develop a baseline emissions model, with carbon abatement calculated as the measurable difference between the baseline emissions and the post-project emissions. Originally registered under the older 2015 Industrial Electricity and Fuel Efficiency method, the project transitioned to the updated 2021 ICER methodology in October 2022.

The Beaudesert area is characterized by a subhumid and subtropical climate, with typical average annual rainfall ranging between 30 and 35 inches. Soils in the local area are primarily riverine alluvium near waterways, transitioning into deep altered basalts and clays. While the wider Scenic Rim region is well known for traditional agriculture, grazing, and cropping, this specific project is situated on a highly developed industrial site.

The project was developed by the proponent, Northmore Gordon Pty Ltd, to implement a major boiler upgrade at the Gelita Australia manufacturing plant. Gelita is a globally recognized supplier of collagen proteins and gelatin. Because the Josephville facility utilizes highly energy-intensive processes, such as large-scale hide processing drums and 40-meter tunnel dryers, upgrading their boilers and optimizing their control systems significantly reduces the factory's overarching reliance on grid electricity and fossil fuels.