Meat processing plant invests in leading biogas technology

Bindaree Beef are planning on introducing a biogas system into their abattoir in Inverell New South Wales in an effort to drastically reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide. The company will be building an AUS$43 million (£25.6 million) biogas system that could potentially reduce emissions by up to 95 per cent.

The Inverell abattoir currently burns around 7,200 tonnes of coal on a yearly basis, producing a large amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The new system will see the installation of a new rendering plant, which will be a more energy efficient alternative. All of the organic waste produced at the facility will be processed through a digester that will use the biogas to produce green energy. Once the system is up and running it will have the potential to cut processing costs by a third for each head of cattle.    

The system could also mean that the company will no longer be subject to the carbon tax that companies throughout Australia have to pay for each tonne of carbon dioxide they produce. Bindaree Beef are looking at potential savings of AUS$2.4 million (£1.4 million) each year in carbon tax once the biogas system is operational, as well as helping towards lowering the amount of air pollution produced by the country.

The company will be receiving AUS$23 million (£13 million) from federal government funding to use in the implementation of the biogas system. The grant is being awarded as part of the Clean Energy Fund.

Tony Windsor, New England MP, said: "This AUS$46 million project represents the first time this technology has been used in an abattoir, making Bindaree Beef a world leader in meat processing. Clean energy will cut the utility cost of processing each head of cattle more than a third. This will make the business much more internationally competitive, creating the opportunity for a boost in production that could deliver hundreds of new jobs."