Esk Landfill Gas Project

The Esk Landfill Gas Project is a landfill gas abatement initiative located at the Esk Refuse and Recycling Centre in Esk, Queensland, approximately 100 kilometers northwest of Brisbane. While the provided coordinates point to a location in New South Wales (likely a registered office or administrative placeholder), the project operations are physically situated in the Somerset Region of South East Queensland. Registered on September 29, 2023, the project is a partnership between the proponent, LGI Limited, and the Somerset Regional Council.

Landfill gas projects operate by installing a network of wells and pipes into the waste mass to vacuum out biogas generated by decomposing organic matter. This gas, which is primarily methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is then captured and combusted (flared) to convert it into carbon dioxide and water. This process significantly reduces the global warming potential of the emissions released from the site.

The Esk region consists largely of rural land used for cattle grazing, agriculture, and rural living. The climate is classified as subtropical to warm temperate, with an average annual rainfall of approximately 730mm. The soils in the broader Somerset region are diverse, ranging from sandy loams to darker, cracking clays (vertosols) and dermosols, which are common in the sub-coastal valleys of South East Queensland.

A notable feature of this project is its financial model; LGI Limited covers the installation and operating costs of the gas collection system, meaning the environmental upgrade comes at no cost to local ratepayers. The system, which includes over 20 vertical extraction wells and a specialized LGI250 flare, is expected to reduce the landfill's methane emissions by up to 80%.