2017-09-18 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                               18 SEPTEMBER 2017


2.3   Landfill Emissions
Carbon emissions from landfill gas comprise 67% of the Council’s total emissions. Carbon
emissions result from the decomposition of organic matter in the anaerobic (without oxygen)
conditions of the landfill. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas - 25 times CO2. Landfill gas is
currently flared whereby the methane is converted to CO2. At present approximately 30% of the
landfill gas is captured.

The Council has a long term contract with LMS to provide the infrastructure to extract and flare
the gas. LMS obtains revenue from the generation and sale of Australian Carbon Credit Units
(ACCUs) under the Federal Government’s Carbon Reduction Scheme.

Council is currently working with LMS to identify opportunities to increase gas extraction to
enable the installation of an electricity generator in the future.

The introduction of the mandatory green waste bins will remove some of the organic material
from the landfill although it will take time to realise the benefits. The opportunity to move to a full
Food Organic and Green Organics (FOGO) system is currently being investigated within Council.
This will reduce emissions from the landfill over time.

2.4   Electricity Consumption
Whilst consumption of electricity by Council‘s buildings and facilities comprises only 6% of
Council’s total footprint, there is opportunity to reduce emissions and total spend on electricity
through energy efficiencies and the installation of renewable energy.

Council commissioned ERM Energy to conduct a Level 2 energy audit of Council’s nine highest
electricity consuming buildings and facilities. The Level 2 audit comprised site visits, review of
energy consumption and identification of potential energy efficiency and renewable energy
initiatives. ERM Energy developed a Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC). A MACC
prioritises carbon abatement projects on a cost benefit analysis in relation to the emissions
reduction and the cost of the project

The 2017/18 capital works program allocates $250,000 for major ZEN projects and $50,000 for
minor projects. The ZEN Project Control Group reviewed the ERM Energy recommendations
from the MACC and determined the projects to be undertaken in the 2017/18 financial year in
accordance with the following criteria:
    Emissions reduction per $ spend;
    Building works status of each facility;
    Capital cost; and
    Total emission reduction achieved.

The following projects have been identified to implement in the 2017/18 financial year and are
currently in the procurement process:
    Solar system at the NAC;
    Solar system for the Noosaville depot;
    Solar system for The J;
    Solar system for the Noosaville library;
    LED lighting retrofit for the Noosaville Depot; and
    Implementation of Energy Management Systems at key sites.




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