FOURTEEN years after installing a methane gas flare at the Bathurst Waste Management Centre to reduce the region's carbon footprint, Bathurst Regional Council is again at the forefront of a methane innovation.
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Council has signed a memorandum of understanding with research and development company ScimTek Hydrogen to commercially demonstrate technology at the Bathurst tip that will convert landfill biogas - primarily methane - to green hydrogen and energy.
It is part of a ScimTek plan to establish a network of hydrogen production sites to refuel heavy vehicles.
Early estimates suggest the hydrogen produced from Bathurst's waste alone could fuel up to 10 heavy vehicles, and Councillor John Fry said that was just the beginning.
"I see this as a parallel to electric vehicle batteries, hydrogen is just another option," he said.
"This is a small project but the potential is massive. We've got in applications for three solar farms around Bathurst and the kick-on effect is that ... we have the potential for a new green industry for Bathurst.
"Bathurst council needs to be on the front foot to attract these industries and to be part of the new economy."
Mayor Ian North said council was committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and was pleased to be able to investigate the application of the technology at the WMC.
"This initiative will complement council's existing green projects to minimise our carbon footprint," Cr North said.
"Council already has invested in solar panels for our facilities such as the library/art gallery and visitor information centre and we also have a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle on trial in our fleet."
Upgrades at the WMC to allow for the hydrogen conversion are expected to begin next year and it is hoped the system will begin operation in late 2022.
The waste management centre's existing methane flame is coming to the end of its working life, providing the opportunity for council to explore new alternatives.
The WMC generates an estimated 3679 cubic metres of gases each day and flaring them reduces the centre's greenhouse gas emissions while also managing the risk of fire at the tip.
Council said hydrogen technologies were safe and would play a key component in reaching net zero emissions.
The announcement of council's MoU with ScimTek comes a week after the release of the NSW Hydrogen Strategy with the State Government committing $3 billion in support to the development of green hydrogen in NSW.
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