There’s more to poo than meets the eye … or the nose, for that matter. It’s the matter, in fact, that is adding grunt to the financial bottom line for Yarra Valley Water (YVW), set against what would otherwise be ongoing costs to provide recycled water services to Melbourne’s booming north.
The water authority is in the detailed design phase of a new “waste to energy’’ plant next to its sewage treatment plant at Aurora, which already supplies class-A recycled water to homes in Craigieburn and Epping North.
The new plant will convert the methane gas emitted by sewage sludge (known as biogas) and other organic matter otherwise destined for landfill, into electricity, reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
On a site tour with YVW’s innovation and growth manager Andrew Edney and northern treatment plant operations manager Stephen Graham, it was explained to the Weekly that methane gas will be collected from a sealed “digestor” unit, significantly cutting emissions of this common greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.
The project is expected to generate enough biogas to run both the electricity generation plant and sewage treatment plant next door. Depending on supply, the biogas may even generate income for the water authority by putting power back into the grid.
YVW managing director Tony Kelly said Aurora was chosen because it was close to organic waste sources, being in the midst of the Plenty Valley Food Group’s manufacturing hub. It’s also near the Western Ring Road and there is a large buffer from residential and commercial premises.
“Instead of treating our sludge as waste, we’re treating it as a product with value,” he said. “The facility will help us … reduce the quantity of nutrients being discharged into Port Phillip Bay while creating a sewage treatment plant that is energy self-sufficient.”
Construction is due to start early next year.
