Zinfra, a trusted provider in energy infrastructure services, has been awarded a bronze rating from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) for its work constructing Jemena’s Malabar Biomethane Injection Plant in NSW.
The rating recognises projects that have been sustainably developed across their planning, design, and construction phases.
Zinfra’s Managing Director, Peter Iancov, said the recognition highlights the capabilities of the Zinfra team, who are well placed to develop new energy systems and infrastructure as part of the transition to a sustainable energy future.
“The Malabar Biomethane Injection Plant has set the benchmark for building and operating sustainable energy assets in Australia. Not only did we construct the plant, but we also upskilled our teams to operate and maintain this new asset to allow us to effectively support Jemena to fulfil its future energy transition ambitions safely and efficiently,” Mr Iancov said.
“This bronze rating from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council demonstrates Zinfra’s ability to deliver projects that are better for the environment while also serving the communities we operate in.”
The Malabar Biomethane Injection Plant was awarded the bronze rating based on four categories: Innovation, Energy, Materials and Knowledge Sharing.
Innovation:
The plant is the first wastewater treatment plant in Australia to refine gas from wastewater and inject it back into the gas distribution network.
Energy:
The plant offsets its own energy consumption, running predominantly on renewable energy.
Materials:
Throughout its construction phase the use of filled materials, such as dirt, rocks and soil, were significantly reduced.
Knowledge Sharing:
As part of the funding agreement with ARENA, Jemena works closely with other stakeholders in the industry to share its findings.
Jemena’s Managing Director, David Gillespie said the Malabar Biomethane Injection Plant is demonstrating the application of biomethane in Jemena’s NSW gas network – which services more than 1.5 million homes and businesses across Sydney and regional New South Wales.
“While homes and businesses are already receiving small amounts of biomethane which is being injected into the gas network, biomethane has the potential to decarbonise our manufacturing and industrial sector,” said Mr Gillespie.
“We know not every industry can electrify due to the high-heat loads required for their operations or it’s simply too costly. Biomethane is offering an alternative that can help decarbonise our industrial sector.
The Malabar Biomethane Injection Plant is co-located at Sydney Water’s Wastewater treatment site in Sydney’s south-eastern suburbs and takes the biogas generated by organic waste, upgrading it to biomethane through a process called anaerobic digestion.
The Malabar Biomethane Injection Plant commenced operation in June 2023. The plant can produce around 95 terajoules of gas per day, the equivalent amount of gas used by approximately 6,300 homes per year.
