Braebrook Biogas Project

Braebrook Biogas Project is an animal effluent management project located at a commercial piggery near Lake Bolac, approximately 90km west of Ballarat in Western Victoria. The project was registered in February 2021 and is situated within the Braebrook Pastoral Company's agricultural operations.

Animal effluent management projects typically involve the installation of infrastructure, such as covered anaerobic lagoons or engineered digesters, to treat manure from piggeries or dairies. These systems capture methane (biogas) generated during the decomposition of organic matter, which is then combusted (flared) or used to generate electricity, preventing the potent greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere.

The Lake Bolac region is part of the Victorian Volcanic Plain, a distinct landscape characterized by its volcanic history. The area receives moderate, winter-dominant rainfall averaging around 535mm annually. The soils are fertile but heavy, typically classified as basalt clays or clay loams ("buckshot" soils), which are well-suited to the mixed cropping and grazing activities common in the district.

A key feature of this project is its integration into an operating piggery, allowing the proponent to turn a waste stream into a managed emissions reduction activity. By capturing methane that would otherwise be released from open anaerobic ponds, the facility not only generates carbon credits but also reduces the odor and environmental impact associated with intensive animal farming.