Shoalhaven LFG Upgrade Project

The Shoalhaven LFG Upgrade Project is a landfill gas recovery operation located at the West Nowra Recycling and Waste Depot in Mundamia, approximately 5km west of Nowra, NSW. Registered in December 2020, the project is managed by LGI Limited in partnership with the Shoalhaven City Council. While the specific project area covers the landfill footprint, the wider Shoalhaven region is characterized by a mix of dairy farming, forestry, and extensive native bushland.

The project operates under the Electricity Generation from Landfill Gas methodology. This method credits the capture and combustion of methane, a potent greenhouse gas generated by the decomposition of organic waste in oxygen-free environments. By upgrading the existing gas collection infrastructure, including the installation of new flares and potential generation units, the project converts methane into carbon dioxide (a much less potent gas) and creates Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

Environmentally, the Nowra region is classified as a high rainfall zone, receiving approximately 1,000mm to 1,100mm of rain annually. High moisture levels are significant for landfill projects as they accelerate the decomposition of waste, thereby increasing gas generation rates. The local geology typically features coastal clay and sandy loam soils, which support the dense vegetation surrounding the facility.

A notable feature of this project is its commercial structure; LGI Limited operates the system at no cost to the Council, paying royalties on the carbon abatement achieved. Since taking over operations in 2021, LGI reports having tripled biogas recovery rates through the installation of custom flares. The site is also being developed to include a renewable hybrid power station with battery storage to feed dispatchable power into the local grid.