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Everything you need to know about the landfill gas method: Part 3

Everything You Need To Know About The Landfill Gas Method : Part 3

Project abatements (ACCUs)

A landfill gas project earns ACCUs (Australian carbon credit units) for every tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2-e) stored or avoided by that project. The calculation of this abatement can be quite complicated, but a key component to the calculations is the amount of methane combusted, which was not generated by carbon tax waste, during the reporting period. Carbon tax waste is known as waste which was deposited into a landfill between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2014, with the method only crediting the destruction of emissions from waste deposited prior to this period (legacy waste) and following this period (non-legacy waste). The Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative – Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination 2015 sets out the equations in which to use to calculate the relevant abatement and, if applicable, you can provide the Clean Energy Regulator with a report and an application for ACCUs if you believe you have earnt some.

Selling ACCUs

Once you have earned ACCUs, you can either hold on to them or sell them. There are two ways to sell ACCUs :

  1. To the Government through a carbon abatement contract
  2. On the secondary market to businesses or organisations who are wanting to offset their carbon emissions

If you wish, you can enter into a long term carbon abatement contract (up to 10 years) with the Government with terms unique to you as to how many ACCUs you are going to provide to them. Alternatively, you can enter into one off contracts with either the Government or on the secondary market for an immediate, once-only sale.

Is the landfill gas method suitable for your business?

When looking at whether the landfill gas method is suitable for you business, two of the major things to consider are :

  1. Are you planning to institute a new gas collection system or upgrade an existing gas collection system which collects and combusts landfill gas?
  2. When the landfill gas is collected and combusted using a combustion device such as a boiler, flare, combustion engine or other device, does that device have a destruction efficiency of at least 98 per cent?

If the answer is a definite yes to both of the above questions, the landfill gas method may be a good option for your business!

What are the benefits of the landfill gas method?

There are a few advantages that the landfill gas method offers, both to the organisations involved as well as the greater community :

  • Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
  • Improvement of safety at landfills
  • Earn ACCUs
  • Reduced carbon footprint
  • Creation of base-load electricity
  • Improvement in air quality
  • Reduction in energy consumption
  • Biodiversity growth
  • Creation of renewable energy certificates
  • Reduction of odour at landfill sites

These are just some of the reasons that both individuals and organisations should seriously consider participating in the landfill gas method.

If you have any questions about how Inoplex can help you with your sustainability goals, get in contact on 0448 307 282 or complete an online enquiry form today. We pride ourselves on our extensive industry knowledge and experience, with our team having decades of science, engineering and product development experience in the mining, automotive, consumer and environmental sectors. We take a practical and holistic approach to addressing water, waste and energy issues and understand the importance of a sustainable future, so get in contact and we can discuss the best options for you.