VP8 Fuel Substitution

VP8 Fuel Substitution is an industrial energy efficiency and fuel switching project located at the Visy Paper mill on Gibson Island in Murarrie, Queensland. The site is situated approximately 12 kilometers east of the Brisbane CBD, near the mouth of the Brisbane River and the Port of Brisbane. Registered in May 2021, the project operates within a heavy industrial zone dedicated to manufacturing and resource recovery.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Industrial and Commercial Emissions Reduction) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology credits reductions in emissions achieved by modifying or replacing energy-consuming equipment, such as boilers, or by switching fuel sources. In this specific instance, the project involves a significant upgrade to the facility's energy systems, including the retrofit of a multi-fuel boiler (John Thompson boiler) to switch from fossil fuels (specifically displacing coal) to a renewable biomass fuel derived from commercial waste diverted from landfill.

The Gibson Island area experiences a subtropical climate characterized by high rainfall, particularly in summer, and warm temperatures year-round. While the project is industrial and takes place on a developed manufacturing site, the surrounding natural environment consists of estuarine wetlands and coastal soils typical of the Brisbane River delta.

A notable aspect of this project is its dual-method approach. Public announcements indicate the facility utilizes both the Industrial and Commercial Emissions Reduction method (for the energy/fuel switch) and potentially an Alternative Waste Treatment method (for the diversion of waste). The project reportedly displaces approximately 17,000 tonnes of coal annually and is part of a broader $48 million sustainability investment by Visy. In 2023, the project proponent role was transferred from Visy Paper Pty Ltd to Northmore Gordon Pty Ltd, a specialist energy and carbon consultancy that manages the credit aggregation and compliance.