$650,000 in funding for hepburn waste to energy system

Hepburn Shire Council has received $650,000 from the Victorian Government to implement the first stage of an innovative waste to energy system.

In the first stage of the $2.4 million project, Hepburn Shire will divert more than 2,000 tonnes of food waste from landfill sites each year – leading to a $280,000 reduction in annual waste disposal costs.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio and local member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas MP announced the funding today as part of the second round of the Government’s $20 million New Energy Jobs Fund (NEJF) grants.

The second stage of the project will investigate injecting the generated methane directly into the gas network.

The NEJF allows for grants of between $20,000 and $1 million to support new energy technology projects that support the uptake of renewable energy, reduce emissions, and assist community groups to develop their own projects.

Over 50 applications were received in round two of the New Energy Jobs Fund, resulting in 21 successful projects receiving a total of $6.7 million in grants.

The first stage of the project is expected to be complete by 2020.

More information on the NEJF at: http://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/future-industries/new-energy-technologies.



Quotes attributable to Mary-Anne Thomas MP
"We all want to see waste dealt with more effectively, and this project is an innovative way to reduce the amount of waste going into landfill."

"I’m proud to support Hepburn Shire Council’s push to accelerate the uptake of waste to energy technology across Victoria and generate more jobs and economic growth."