According to the company’s website news release on March 22, 2023, Origin Energy (Origin) has signed an agreement for biomethane supply from Jemena, which will see Origin become the first company to supply Australian customers with renewable gas.
Origin has agreed to purchase up to 110TJ of biomethane per year when the trial is expected to begin in April 2023, through until the end of 2024.
The gas produced at the Malabar Biomethane Demonstration Project, which is upgraded from the biogas from Sydney Water’s wastewater treatment plant, is the first renewable gas certification pilot currently under development by GreenPower, a NSW government renewable energy accreditation body. The Project is a partnership between the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), Sydney Water, and Jemena.
Origin’s head of energy supply and operations, Greg Jarvis said, “Origin is pleased to be the first retailer to purchase renewable gas from Jemena’s Malabar Biomethane project. Increasingly, our customers are looking for options to help reduce their carbon emissions, and we believe renewable gas could play a role in the future energy mix.”
Biomethane is produced by upgrading biogas which is created from bacteria breaking down waste, such as organic matter in wastewater, to produce gas. Although the gas is ready to blend into the existing network, is compatible with existing household appliances and doesn’t require any extensive upgrades to the gas network, the injection of biomethane into the natural gas network is not yet proven due to technical, regulatory and commercial factors which will be tested during the pilot program, according to ARENA.
