BOC Wetherill Park N2O emissions reduction project

BOC Wetherill Park N2O emissions reduction project is an industrial emissions reduction project located at BOC's major operations centre in Wetherill Park, approximately 30km west of the Sydney CBD. Registered in May 2025, the project focuses on abating nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from the facility's gas production lines. As an industrial facility situated within a dedicated heavy industrial zone, the project area is defined by the site's manufacturing footprint rather than broad hectares.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Industrial and Commercial Emissions Reduction) Methodology Determination 2021 (ICER). This methodology credits reductions in emissions from industrial processes, often achieved by upgrading equipment or installing control systems that destroy greenhouse gases before they are vented to the atmosphere. In this specific case, the project targets the abatement of N2O, a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential significantly higher than carbon dioxide, likely through the use of thermal oxidizers or catalytic destruction technology.

Wetherill Park sits on the Cumberland Plain of Western Sydney. While the region historically features clay-based soils and receives moderate rainfall (around 800mm–900mm annually), the immediate environment is a highly developed industrial estate characterized by concrete hardstands and large-scale manufacturing infrastructure. The site itself includes cylinder maintenance centres, specialty gas filling facilities, and a dedicated nitrous oxide plant.

A notable aspect of this project is the proponent, Shell Energy Trading Pty Ltd. This arrangement reflects a broader strategic decarbonisation partnership between Shell Energy and BOC; historically, Shell has supplied renewable energy to BOC’s facilities. The involvement of Shell as the proponent suggests they are managing the carbon credit generation and trading aspect of the project on behalf of BOC.