Waste to Energy facility a viable solution to landfill

Media Release 19 October 2018
In partnership with the Rivers Regional Council (RRC), Phoenix Energy Australia and the Cities of Armadale, Gosnells, Mandurah and Canning, and the Shire of Murray, the City of South Perth is part of an innovative project to develop Australia’s first thermal Waste to Energy (WtE) facility to be located in Kwinana, 40km south of Perth.
 
Financial close was reached this week and construction of the facility which has been co-developed by Macquarie Capital and Phoenix Energy, will commence this month and is scheduled to open by the end of 2021. 


With increasing pressure on landfill capacity, and concerted community efforts to reduce landfill levels, WtE represents a significant opportunity for the generation of affordable green power. The Kwinana facility will use Keppel Seghers moving grate technology, which thermally treats the waste and converts the recovered energy into steam to produce electricity. 

The facility will export 36MW of electricity to the local grid per year, sufficient to power more than 50,000 households. Metallic materials will be recovered and recycled, while other by- products will be reused as construction materials. 

“It is no longer feasible to consider landfill as the long-term solution to managing general waste. As our population continues to grow, the City of South Perth must consider alternatives to landfill for the disposal of general household waste,” Mayor Sue Doherty said.

“The Waste to Energy facility in Kwinana will help our  City significantly reduce our reliance on landfill disposal; making a step change towards achieving its zero waste objective.” 

Key benefits of the Kwinana Waste to Energy facility 

  • 400,000 tonnes of household, commercial, and industrial waste to be diverted from Western Australian landfill per year, equivalent to one quarter of Perth’s post-recycling rubbish 
  • A consequent reduction of 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year, equivalent to taking 85,000 cars off the road 
  • 36MW of reliable baseload energy to be exported to the grid, sufficient to power more than 50,000 households 
  • Strong support from the Australian and Western Australian Governments through funding and leasing agreements 
  • Long-term waste supply agreements already in place with a number of local councils allowing for an affordable and sustainable solution for the disposal of household waste
  • More than 800 jobs, including apprenticeships, to be created in Western Australia during construction and 60 full-time positions once operational. 

The WtE facility has received all necessary environmental and development approvals required from Western Australian Government agencies in order to commence construction of the facility on Leath Road within the Kwinana Industrial Area.

The project is supported by 20-year waste supply agreements with RRC and the City of Kwinana. The project also has a five-year waste supply agreement with Veolia.

The Western Australia Local Government Association (WALGA) has appointed the Kwinana Waste to Energy facility as a preferred supplier of baseload renewable energy, representing a reliable source of baseload power to WALGA members.

To find out more visit:
Rivers Regional Council
Phoenix Energy

Media contact

For media enquiries, please contact the City’s Communications Officer.