Pavilion Farms Anakie Anaerobic Digestion Project

Pavilion Farms Anakie Anaerobic Digestion Project is a waste-to-energy project located in Anakie, approximately 25km north of Geelong in Victoria. Registered in October 2022, the project is situated on a large-scale commercial poultry facility. The site operates within the agricultural region north of the Brisbane Ranges, an area traditionally characterized by grazing, cropping, and intensive animal production.

The project operates under the Animal Effluent Management methodology, which incentivizes the capture and destruction of methane generated from decomposing animal manure. Specifically, this facility is designed to process approximately 20,000 tonnes of chicken litter annually, alongside other organic food waste, using an anaerobic digestion (AD) system. Instead of allowing methane to release into the atmosphere from open stockpiles or ponds, the gas is captured in enclosed tanks and combusted to generate renewable electricity and heat.

Environmental conditions in the Anakie region are temperate with relatively low rainfall, typically averaging between 450mm and 550mm per year. The local terrain features clay loam soils, which are common in the volcanic plains and sedimentary profiles of the area. This soil type requires careful management for drainage, particularly around intensive infrastructure.

An interesting aspect of this project is its "circular farming" approach. Beyond emission reductions, the facility is designed to convert the digestate byproduct into a pathogen-free, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer. The renewable energy generated is intended to power the farm's operations, reducing reliance on the grid and supporting the proponent's goal of carbon-neutral food production.