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Mt Gambier sawmill goes green with biomass electricity

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Australia and New Zealand forestry and timber company OneFortyOne has announced a $30 million investment in a renewable biomass power generation project at its Jubilee Sawmill in Mt Gambier, South Australia.

One of the largest timber mills in Australia, the company is investing a total of $90 million at Jubilee which includes the installation of a new boiler and steam turbine.

OneFourtyOne has a 105-year lease of 80,000 hectares of plantation assets in SA, and operates Nelson Forests Limited and Kaituna Mill in New Zealand.

OneFourtyOne CEO Wendy Norris said: “The Jubilee Sawmill has been part of OneFortyOne since 2018 and since that time we have proudly invested in the team and the site every year.

“The need to replace our current boiler, which is reaching its end of life, has presented us with a unique opportunity to rethink how we utilise steam and consume electricity at our site.

“This investment not only supports our decarbonisation goals but also positions us for future opportunities in renewable energy.

“By installing a steam turbine power generation system, we will be able to produce electricity from biomass, significantly repurposing wood fibre, preparing for our future energy needs.”

The project will produce 43,800 mWh of renewable electricity annually and is expected to be completed by 2026 achieving:

  • Over 70 percent of OneFourtyOne’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction target
  • Over 50 percent reduction in OneFortyOne’s total combined Scope 1 and 2 emissions
  • Over 85 percent reduction in OneFortyOne’s total Scope 2 emissions
  • And over 9,000 tCO2e emissions avoided on 2021 levels.

The Jubilee Sawmill first started producing electricity in 1956 and produced energy for Mount Gambier until the 1970s.

The new turbine will generate more than enough electricity to power the entire Jubilee Sawmill site.

The excess renewable electricity can be returned to the grid or used to enable future electrification of forklifts, trucks and other machinery.

The SA Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas said: “This investment into one of South Australia’s most significant industries is exciting for our state.

“This is a welcome announcement, which means longevity of technology, reduced carbon emissions and renewable energy going back into the grid.”

Picture: OneFortyOne/Jubilee sawmill



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