Australia’s first biosolids gasification plant opened recently at Logan Waste Water.
This innovative facility converts human waste by drying it out and then heating it to extreme temperatures to create gas and biochar.
The gas is then pumped back into the industrial oven that heats the waste. The biochar can be used as a fertiliser or in construction.
This technology, developed locally, has never been tried before in the southern hemisphere and maybe the world.
There are now local governments and water authorities across the country and overseas already looking to replicate what has been dubbed the ‘Logan Project’.
The Federal Government contributed $6.23 million to the $28 million project through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, or ARENA.
Our government’s aim is to reduce emissions through technology while creating local jobs and boosting the Australian economy.
The Logan Project does that in spades.
As well as the environmental benefits, the project promises to bring enormous benefits to Logan ratepayers.
Previously, up to six trucks a day transported excess waste to western Queensland.
Now, thanks to this new process, this number has been reduced to one truckload of waste a week.
Other savings come in the form of carbon credits for Logan City Council, and Logan Water is in the process of engaging commercial partners to purchase the biochar.
The estimated savings to Council could be around $1 million a year, before any further future revenue generated through the sale of biochar.
The bioenergy sector has the potential to boost Australia’s GDP by $10 billion, while creating 26,000 jobs and reducing emissions and landfill.
I know the federal government will be keeping a careful eye on the Logan Project to see if this homegrown technology can be adopted across the country.
Leave a Reply