As the demand for sustainable waste management solutions grows, Yarra Valley Water is at the forefront, developing food waste to energy facilities that convert commercial food waste into clean, renewable energy. These initiatives make recycling food waste easier and more affordable for local businesses in the area.
Yarra Valley Water is now constructing a second food waste to energy facility in Lilydale, in Melbourne’s east. The cutting-edge facility will cut greenhouse emissions and produce green energy, helping Yarra Valley Water achieve its targets to become net zero and use 100 per cent renewable electricity in 2025.
Yarra Valley Water Managing Director, Pat McCafferty, said that the utility is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to help address the effects of climate change.
“The new Lilydale facility has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 24,700 CO2 equivalent tonnes every year – that’s similar to taking 23,000 cars off the road,” Mr McCafferty said.
Pioneering the path: Wollert Food Waste to Energy Facility
In 2017, Yarra Valley Water launched Victoria’s first commercial-scale food waste to energy facility at Wollert, located approximately 26km north of Melbourne’s CBD.
The facility processes 33,000t of food waste annually from commercial producers such as markets and food manufacturers, generating approximately 22,000kWh of electricity per day – enough to meet the power demands of about 1,300 homes.
“When we built Victoria’s first commercial scale food waste to energy facility, it was one of the first of its kind in Australia.”
“We’ve been successfully operating one of Australia’s largest food waste to energy facilities in Wollert since May 2017. Our Wollert facility has converted more than 175,000t of food waste to clean renewable energy so far,” Mr McCafferty said.
The electricity generated not only powers the facility and the sewage treatment plant but also supplies a significant surplus to the electricity grid.
Lilydale Facility: a step forward
Following the success of Wollert, Yarra Valley Water is building a second, even bigger, food waste to energy facility in Lilydale. The new facility will accept 55,000t of food waste annually.
Manager Waste to Energy Services, Stephanie Salinas, said that the organic waste can be anything from fruit and vegetables from markets, to fats and grease from a fast-food restaurant.
“It is exciting that the Lilydale plant will also be equipped to de-package food from places such as supermarkets.”
“The waste is fed into digestors that work pretty much like a human stomach,” Ms Salinas said.
“We’re converting food waste to renewable energy using the gas that’s produced by the anaerobic bacteria inside the digestors,” she said.
This will produce more than enough renewable energy to power itself and the adjacent sewage treatment plant, with roughly 70 per cent of the energy used on site and 30 per cent exported to the grid – making the facility not just environmentally sustainable but also commercially viable.
“The new facility will generate 39,000kWh of electricity per day – which is enough to power the equivalent of more than 2,200 Victorian households,” Ms Salinas said.
Towards a sustainable future
Yarra Valley Water says it is on track to meet its goal of generating 100 per cent of its energy needs through renewable sources and achieving net zero emissions in 2025.
This supports the Victorian water sector’s world-leading targets to cut emissions, as outlined in the Statement of Obligations (Zero Emissions) launched by the Minister for Water, Harriet Shing.
Victoria’s water sector is the first in Australia to commit to being net zero no later than 2035.
“The Victorian Government is playing a lead role in reaching net zero emissions,” Mr McCafferty said.
“We’re at the forefront of slashing greenhouse gas emissions, not just locally, but globally. Thanks to projects like our food waste to energy facilities, Yarra Valley Water is set to reach these targets a decade earlier.”
“This new facility demonstrates how the water industry can innovate to change operations in order to hit these targets and make a real difference for our environment,” Mr McCafferty said.
Yarra Valley Water’s food waste to energy initiatives at Wollert and Lilydale represent significant strides towards a sustainable, circular economy. These facilities highlight the potential for innovative projects to transform waste management, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to renewable energy production.
As Yarra Valley Water continues to lead by example, it demonstrates how the water sector can adapt and thrive by implementing innovative waste management solutions.
Featured image: Yarra Valley Water Managing Director, Pat McCafferty, Cr Sophie Todorov, Mayor, Yarra Ranges Council, Tammi Rose, Yarra Ranges Council CEO, Gabrielle Bell, Chair Yarra Valley Water, Minister for Water, the Hon. Harriet Shing MP, Mary Kanavoutsos, Director Yarra Valley Water, Victoria Marles AM, Director Yarra Valley Water. Image: Yarra Valley Water.