Henderson Landfill Gas Upgrade Project

The Henderson Landfill Gas Upgrade Project is a landfill gas capture and combustion project located at the Henderson Waste Recovery Park, approximately 25km south of the Perth CBD in Western Australia. It was registered in December 2022, and while the exact area footprint is unknown, the project is confined to the active landfill operations site.

Landfill gas projects operate under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Reducing Methane Emissions from Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination. These projects involve capturing methane gas, which is naturally generated by decomposing organic waste within a landfill, through a network of vertical extraction wells and pipework. The captured gas is then combusted. This standard requirement converts highly potent methane into less harmful carbon dioxide, preventing it from freely venting into the atmosphere and earning carbon credits for the net emissions abated.

The region around Henderson sits within a dedicated industrial zone adjacent to the Australian Marine Complex, and local land use is heavily characterised by heavy industry, shipbuilding, and waste management activities. Positioned on the Swan Coastal Plain, the environment experiences a Mediterranean climate typically defined by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters with moderate rainfall. The local soils are predominantly sandy, specifically featuring the Spearwood and Bassendean dune systems which overlay ancient limestone formations.

Set up by the proponent LMS Energy Pty Ltd in partnership with the local council, the City of Cockburn, this "upgrade" project focuses on expanding the existing gas collection infrastructure to improve overall methane capture efficiency. The captured methane from the site is not just flared; it is utilised to generate base-load renewable electricity at the on-site 3.2 MW Henderson Bioenergy Facility. Interestingly, the site has also been the subject of recent government-funded feasibility studies to potentially use its off-grid landfill gas power to produce green hydrogen, aiming to sustainably refuel the City's heavy waste collection vehicles.