The Port Hedland Waste to Energy Project is an Australian first, and will convert approximately 100,000 tonnes of waste, which would otherwise have gone to landfill, into a clean and renewable energy source.
At full capacity, the Port Hedland Waste to Energy Project, which uses technology developed in Western Australia, could produce enough energy to power the equivalent of 21,000 homes in the Pilbara.
The EPA has recommended the project be approved by the WA Minister for Environment after it was considered at the highest level of assessment via a Public Environmental Review (PER).
The decision of the EPA is now open to public appeal for a two week period, before the Minister makes a final determination on the project.
New Energy Chairman Enzo Gullotti said a comprehensive PER submission, supported by successful community consultation, had contributed to the EPA's decision, which was a significant milestone for the company.
"The delivery of this project will ensure that recycling initiatives can be realised on a large scale, landfill diversion rates will be among the highest in Western Australia, and clean renewable power generation is established," Gullotti said.
New Energy Chief Executive David Sneddon said Port Hedland was selected due to the pressure on the waste management and power generation infrastructure in the region, and to play a key role in assisting to deliver the State Government's "Pilbara Cities" vision.
"In order to achieve the State Government's objective of building the population of Karratha and Port Hedland into cities of 50,000 people, sustainable waste and power generation infrastructure is critical," Sneddon said.
"New Energy's solution is well placed to assist the Pilbara in keeping pace with its unprecedented growth."
The New Energy facility will use the Entech gasification technology that breaks down the organic portion of wastes to produce a synthetic gas that consists mainly of methane and carbon monoxide. This syngas is then burnt to produce electricity.
The company's developments to date include the submitting of the PER document for the proposed New Energy facility in Rockingham, entering into exclusive Memorandums of Understanding to develop similar sized projects in Victoria and New South Wales, and progressing New Energy's International expansion plans.