Green energy harvested from landfill

Rouse Hill Times
Wednesday 14/5/2008 Page: 24

ROTTING rubbish in Marsden Park is providing electricity for 1000 NSW homes. WSN Environmental Solutions' Grange Avenue landfill at Marsden Park continues to contribute to renewable energy generation three years after the dump was closed. The plant exports enough green electricity to the NSW Energy Grid to supply more than 1000 homes with year-round clean power and is expected to achieve its 15,000th MW hour this month.

The site incorporates a 1.25MW gas engine power station, which is owned and operated by Energy Developments Limited. methane created during the decomposition of household waste in the landfill is used as a fuel to create electricity, which is then supplied to the energy grid. WSN Environmental Solutions chief executive officer Ken Kanofski said renewable energy is at the forefront of the fight against climate change.

"Capturing gas from landfill and generating green electricity is a crucial interim measure as the waste industry moves towards alternative waste technology," he said. "While the Grange Ave landfill site may be closed, it still makes a significant contribution to the production of renewable energy, which is made possible by EDL's technology." WSN sites' export enough green energy to the NSW energy grid to provide year-round power to 30,000 homes and there are plans for expansion. "By 2014, WSN sites will be exporting enough green power to the grid to power 40,000 homes with year-round electricity," he said.