Nowra dairy farmers to turn manure into electricity at Australian-first biogas plant

A $5m Australian-first dairy effluent biogas plant to turn manure from surrounding farms into renewable energy will be built at Pyree near Nowra. 

Key points:

• Manure will be converted into electricity for farmers
• The biogas plant will cost around $5 million
• It will solve the problem of what to do with large amounts of manure 

The project, once complete, will mean manure from dairy farms at Pyree on the South Coast, can be transported to one location nearby and processed to make electricity.

The energy would then be used to power the participating farms, with excess energy to be sold back to retail customers.

NSW Dairy advocate Ian Zandstra runs a dairy farm at Pyree and said all 18 farms in the area will be part of the project.

"I think it's the time for it," Mr Zandstra said. 

"There's a lot of support for green electricity and green energy generally. The farmers are also very willing to be part of this because of the challenges of manure disposal," he said.

The process has already been rolled out across Europe, however Innovating Energy, a company specialising in producing energy from waste products, was hoping to mobilise the technology in Australia.

The biogas microgrid will involve connecting all 18 farms in the Pyree area near Nowra to one main plant where manure would be converted to electricity.(Supplied: Innovating Energy)

CEO of Innovating Energy David Ryan said the plan will use all parts of dairy waste, which farmers often find difficult to dispose of.

"It will create a true circular waste to energy cycle that uses all the dairy waste," Mr Ryan said. 

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The remainder of the waste can be spread on pastures as fertiliser.

The plant is expected to utilise existing infrastructure associated with the Shoalhaven recycled water management scheme, which will allow waste from the farms to be transported via pre-existing canals. 

Nationwide roll out

The program is part of a $50 million program being implemented around the country to try and find alternative means of electricity for farmers who are a long way from the grid. 

Minister for Energy Angus Taylor said some federal funding would be made available for the Nowra project and if it is successful, it will roll out in other areas.

"We want to pioneer new technologies," the minister said. 

"For dairy farmers, energy is a big cost and it's an important cost to try and bring down," he said. 

The project will take between 12 and 14 months to complete and cost about $5m. 

It is expected to be finished by late next year.