The Victorian Government has awarded $1 million funding to Yarra Valley Water to expand its food-waste-to-energy facility in Lilydale, in Melbourne’s western fringe.
The facility is set to open in 2024-2025, and this latest funding boost will ensure a second generator can be constructed. Once operational, the site will generate more than 12,900MW/h of electricity per year – approximately 35 per cent of Yarra Valley Water’s energy needs, or enough to power around 2200 Victorian households. It will also divert 55,000 tonnes of commercial and industrial food waste from landfill every year.
The Lilydale facility uses anaerobic-digestion technology to create energy, and the funding comes via the Victorian Government’s Waste to Energy – Bioenergy Fund, which is committed to delivering $10 million in grants to support the development of innovative bioenergy projects.
It is delivered by Sustainability Victoria under the Victorian Government’s “Recycling Victoria: A New Economy” policy, which is part of a $515 million investment to transform the state’s waste and recycling industry.
“Investing in food-waste-to-energy production is central to our commitment to support Victoria’s transition to a circular economy, reduce waste and minimise our carbon footprint,” says Yarra Valley Water managing director Pat McCafferty.
“Having a second generator will increase the power output of our Lilydale facility, nearly doubling our export to the grid. It also means we can continue to operate uninterrupted if one generator has any issues.”
Yarra Valley Water has also been granted $175,000 to enhance electricity generation infrastructure at its bioenergy facility in Wollert (pictured above) in Melbourne’s outer north.
“This funding will play a vital role in expanding our capabilities, allowing us to divert even more food waste from landfill and generate clean energy to power homes and facilities,” says McCafferty.