Western Port Works Continuous Paint Line #2 (CPL2) Oven replacement Project

Western Port Works Continuous Paint Line #2 (CPL2) Oven replacement Project is an industrial energy efficiency project located at the BlueScope Steel Western Port facility in Hastings, Victoria, approximately 70km southeast of Melbourne. Registered in November 2021, the project is situated within a dedicated heavy industrial zone adjacent to the Western Port Bay port facilities.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Industrial and Commercial Emissions Reduction) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology credits the reduction of emissions intensity or absolute emissions from industrial processes, typically achieved by replacing old, inefficient equipment with modern technology. In this specific instance, BlueScope replaced 50-year-old curing ovens on their Continuous Paint Line #2 (CPL2) with new, high-efficiency equipment. This upgrade was designed to reduce natural gas consumption by approximately 78% per tonne of painted product, resulting in a significant decrease in Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions.

While the immediate project area is an industrial steelworks on reclaimed land, the surrounding Mornington Peninsula region is characterized by a temperate coastal climate with moderate annual rainfall (approximately 750mm). The broader landscape features sandy loam and clay soils supporting a mix of grazing, market gardens, and viticulture, alongside significant residential development. The facility itself sits directly adjacent to the Western Port Ramsar wetland, a sensitive environmental area known for its biodiversity.

An interesting note is that this project is a key component of BlueScope's climate action strategy, estimated to reduce emissions by roughly 18,000 tonnes of CO2-e per year. It originally operated under the 2015 Industrial Electricity and Fuel Efficiency method before transitioning to the 2021 Industrial and Commercial Emissions Reduction method, which allows for broader abatement activities including fuel switching and complex equipment upgrades.