Did you know that landfill gas from City of Darwin’s Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility (SBWMF) is currently generating enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of approximately 1400 average-sized homes a year?

More than 7.8 million kilowatt hours of electricity is generated annually from Shoal Bay biogas, feeding into the grid for general consumption, with expansion plans set to double renewable energy generation in the near future.

Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said Shoal Bay’s renewable energy capabilities were part of City of Darwin’s commitment to best practice, improved sustainability and the protection of the environment. 

“City of Darwin encourages a culture of environmental responsibility and promotes sustainable practices, which is reflected in our operations, including the Shoal Bay renewable energy facility,” Mr Vatskalis said.

“We appreciate the reality of the environmental challenges confronting us all.

“So much so, in 2019 I declared a climate emergency because of our concerns about the escalation of climate impacts on our city,” Mr Vatskalis said.

Every year on April 22, Earth Day celebrates the achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect our natural resources for future generations.

Mr Vatskalis said events like Earth Day helped focus attention on climate change and the positive actions individuals and organisations can take to make a difference.

“Our biogas plant reduces the release of greenhouse gas emissions from waste at Shoal Bay by collecting landfill gas to generate renewable energy and that is a win for the environment.”

Mr Vatskalis said renewable energy projects will contribute to City of Darwin’s ambitious net zero emissions target from operations by 2030, as outlined in the 2030 Climate Emergency Strategy.

For more information, visit the City of Darwin website.