Cessnock Landfill Gas Upgrade Project

The Cessnock Landfill Gas Upgrade Project (ERF184945) is a waste emissions reduction initiative located at the Cessnock Waste Management Centre, approximately 4km northeast of the Cessnock town centre in New South Wales. Registered in July 2023 by LMS Energy Pty Ltd, the project operates within the Hunter Region, an area distinctively known for its juxtaposition of historic coal mining operations and the prestigious vineyards of the Lower Hunter Valley. The region typically experiences a temperate climate with moderate rainfall, and the local terrain often features clay and loamy soils suitable for mixed industrial and rural land uses.

This project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2015. Landfill gas projects are designed to capture methane, a potent greenhouse gas released during the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste, and combust it, converting it into less harmful carbon dioxide. As an "upgrade" project, this specific initiative does not merely establish a new system but enhances an existing gas collection infrastructure. This likely involves the installation of additional gas extraction wells or improved piping networks to capture a higher percentage of gas than was previously achieved, earning Carbon Credits (ACCUs) for the additional abatement generated beyond historical baselines.

The proponent, LMS Energy, is Australia’s largest landfill bioenergy company, managing dozens of similar facilities across the country. The Cessnock Waste Management Centre itself is a critical infrastructure asset for the council, processing significant volumes of municipal waste. By upgrading the gas capture systems here, the project not only generates carbon credits but also reduces local odour and improves air quality, aligning with the facility's broader environmental management goals.