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Our sustainable development strategy includes biomass co-firing, co-generation using sugar cane waste as fuel and hydro-electric generation.
Biomass Co-firing
We aim to reduce greenhouse emissions at our coal fired generators, by up to 20,000 tonnes each year by co-firing small quantities of renewable biomass fuels with coal. The biomass fuel includes saw mill residual, a by-product of sustainable plantation operations.
We are also investigating using construction and demolition wood which now finds its way into Sydney landfill.
The environmental benefits include preventing this material breaking down to methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and promoting the recycling of existing wood waste. This will provide a market for low value wood waste and cash flow to recycling businesses to sort wood waste and recover timber for reuse.
Co-generation
In a joint venture with the NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative , Delta is developing new co-generation plants at Condong and Broadwater sugar mills on the NSW North Coast. This Sunshine Electricity project will be the largest renewable baseload energy project in NSW, and will supply the equivalent of 60,000 homes and save around 400,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year. Commissioning will be completed before the end of 2008 and electricity will be marketed as Sunshine Electricity.
Biomass fuels including cane wastes from sugar milling and harvesting will produce renewable electricity and supply steam to the sugar mill. Using cane trash (the leaves of the sugar cane) will allow the sugar industry to stop pre-harvest burning of the crop. T his will improve air quality in the region. The plants may also use Camphor Laurel waste as fuel, helping eradicate this noxious weed.
Condong fuel Plan
A fuel plan for the Condong facility has been prepared and is available by clicking here.
Hydro-electric Generation
Delta currently operates hydro-electricity plants at Mt Piper and Chichester Dam and Dungog Water Treatment Plant, which are operated by Hunter Water. We have also won the right to build hydro systems on dams managed by Sydney Water at Glennies Creek, Lostock, Brogo and Windamere.
The energy produced at Mt Piper hydro is sold under the SEDA (Sustainable Energy Development Authority) approved Greenpower scheme. Chichester hydro produces Renewable Energy Certificates accredited by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER).
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