City's trash turns into gas treasure

MORE than 600,000 tonnes of Sydney's waste has been deposited into the Woodlawn Bioreactor's gigantic 200 metre deep void since the landmark facility first became operational on September 6, 2004.
Veolia's technical general manager - Environmental Services - Shaun Rainford confirmed plans were now well underway to produce clean energy from the methane now being produced in volume by the waste.
"All pipes have been placed, pumps installed, water recirculated through the waste, and we are now working on the final stages on the Woodlawn Bioreactor Energy (WBE) facility, built by the VES engineering team together with Clarke Energy Pty," he said.


Mr Rainford said the power station, which was expected to undergo commissioning trials later this year, would take biogas from the waste (normally just left to vent to atmosphere as a potent Greenhouse gas) and produce green energy for the grid through a deal struck with Energy Australia in late 2004.
"It is expected that up to 20mW of electricity could be produced per hour once commercial production begins early next year," Mr Rainford said.
In addition to this project Veolia was looking at the feasibility for two further projects on the Tarago site.
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