Malabar biomethane project gains GreenPower certification

Jemena’s Malabar Biomethane Project, which is injecting biomethane from processed wastewater in the gas network, has become the first renewable gas project to receive certification under the new GreenPower accreditation program.

The GreenPower Renewable Gas Certification Pilot was launched in 2023 and operates nationwide. According to its website, certification enables commercial and industrial users “to match their gas use with renewable gas certificates”, with “each certificate represent[ing] accredited renewable gas that displaces fossil natural gas”.

The Malabar project is initially producing around 110 terajoules of gas annually.

“Our industrial and manufacturing customers are telling us they need gas for high heat and as a feedstock. At the same time, we know they are also looking at ways to lower their carbon footprint,” said Jemena’s Managing Director David Gillespie in a statement on Wednesday.

“GreenPower certification is the next step in establishing a domestic renewable gas market which will deliver a decarbonisation option for these customers.

“This is particularly important for industrial customers who have been mandated to reduce emissions under the Federal Safeguard Mechanism.”

According to a statement from Sydney Water and others, burning biomethane versus natural gas reduces greenhouse gas emissions by over 90 per cent.

GreenPower’s website states that certification is being run as a pilot “because the industry is in its infancy and renewable gases may in future be included in the Australian Government’s Guarantee of Origin scheme.” The interim program aims to bridge a gap until a permanent scheme is established.

The biomethane project was announced in November 2020 and received $5.9 million in grant support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. 

It began injecting biomethane – created through upgraded biogas produced from organic material at Sydney Water’s Malabar Water Resource Recovery Facility – into the grid last year.

Picture: supplied

Further reading

NSW to get green gas trial at Malabar wastewater plant

Biomethane being injected into Sydney gas system

Sewage to biomethane trial gets underway at Sydney

Here’s how wastewater facilities could tackle food waste, generate energy and slash emissions