REMONDIS Australia has signed a multi-million dollar contract with leading solutions provider Jacobs to support design and environmental aspects of its proposed $400 million Energy From Waste facility at Swanbank.
Selected after an extensive tender process, Jacobs will oversee key engineering, design, procurement and environmental work, including formation of the project’s critical Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Jacobs will start with preliminary engineering studies and design work, which will inform the EIS and enable REMONDIS to provide the public with technical specifics of the project.
Sarah Collins, REMONDIS Project Manager said Jacobs was selected based on its extensive global experience.
“We need the best and most experienced minds guiding us as we move through the design and approvals process,” Collins said. “Jacobs has an impressive record supporting major infrastructure delivery nationally and globally, including Energy from Waste projects.
“We’re partnering with Jacobs to undertake key technical and environmental studies, enabling us to develop the project as we seek approvals. That will, in turn, enable us to inform the community about specific details as our community consultation process evolves.”
The $400 million EfW proposal forms part of REMONDIS’ planned $700 million Clean Energy & Resource Recovery Precinct at Swanbank, which would lift current waste management operations to global best practice by enhancing the ‘circular economy’ concept – doing something with almost all waste that arrives, as opposed to burying it.
“Instead of digging unsightly holes, dealing with the resulting land disturbance and environmental impacts, and tipping up to half a million tonnes of unrecyclable waste in each year, we can divert almost all of that and use it to make cleaner electricity,” Collins said.
“This is an ideal site for such technology, given the long-term waste supply and proximity to electricity infrastructure.”
REMONDIS first considered the concept of an EfW facility at its Swanbank site in 2016 and approached the Queensland Government in 2018. The proposal received Co-ordinated Project Status in June 2020
The Queensland Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Report identifies Energy from Waste technology is an ‘essential part of the mix’ if longer term and sustainable waste recovery targets are to be achieved
Currently, up to 500,000 tonnes a year of non-recyclable waste goes to landfill at the Swanbank site. If the EfW facility is approved, a majority of this waste would be diverted to generate up to 50 megawatts of cleaner baseload energy per year – enough to power 50,000 homes each year. Neighbouring electricity infrastructure will enable new power to be fed into the grid.
Prasannah Kumar, Jacobs Executive Director of Operations Australia and New Zealand, Solutions and Advisory, said there were many environmental and economic benefits behind modern EfW facilities.
“Beyond being safe and effective, Energy from Waste facilities are a way of life in many big cities overseas,” Prasannah said.
“We can see the potential at Swanbank and want to play a key role in delivering a facility modelled on global best practice.
“The obvious benefits include a staggering drop in landfill operations and a cleaner way of making electricity.”
The Jacobs team of more than 40 specialists will work alongside REMONDIS’ locally-based management team.
The EfW facility will create 200 construction and 70 permanent jobs.
For more information visit: www.energyfromwaste.com.au
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NSW Releases Energy From Waste Plan
Industry Responds To QLD Energy From Waste Policy
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