The McGowan Government will invest a $2 million grant from the Collie Futures Industry Development Fund to secure a $9.4 million waste recycling plant for the Collie region.
The collaborative project will be delivered by Renergi Pty Ltd, with support from the State Government, the Shire of Collie and the Commonwealth Government, which has provided $3.9 million in funding through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
The project has attracted private investment from a consortium of investors related to ZEN Energy led by Professor Ross Garnaut and Western Australian businessman Norman Pater.
Renergi will use its patented design to build a commercial-scale demonstration plant to recycle municipal solid waste and waste biomass to produce bio-oil and biochar.
The bio-oil will be sold to local industrial customers as a liquid fuel to generate industrial heat, while the biochar will be sold to WA farmers as a soil conditioner.
The project makes a considerable contribution to the circular economy by diverting council waste from landfill and turning it into energy and other valuable by-products.
A prototype of this design has been operated by a team led by Professor Chun-Zhu Li in Curtin University’s laboratory at Technology Park, with this new commercial-scale plant having potential to revolutionise the management of municipal waste throughout the State and beyond.
The project is expected to create up to 10 jobs during construction and up to 10 jobs once the plant is fully operational, as well as generate flow on economic, social and environmental benefits for Collie and the wider WA community.
Renergi will give preference to local manufacturers for the construction of components of the plant.
The facility is to be co-located with the Shire of Collie’s landfill site, to enable access to municipal waste.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“This innovative bio-energy project is another example of the McGowan Government’s Collie Futures Industry Development Fund working to create long-term opportunities for the town.
“In addition to the 20 construction and operational jobs, the project will generate a range of other economic and employment benefits for Collie from the sale of its products.
“The McGowan Government is committed to supporting sustainable energy projects that create jobs and help diversify the WA economy.”
As stated by Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray:
“Renergi is looking to do innovative things here in Collie, which I envisage have the potential to unlock further industrial opportunities.
“This is a well-backed project that will see jobs created on the ground from the start and will continue to do so well into the future.
“The McGowan Government’s considerable efforts to diversify Collie’s economy are ensuring a vibrant future for the town, creating jobs across a range of industries.”
