• October 13, 2023
• By Jackson
• Articles, News

Verdant Earth Technologies Limited (the Applicant) has acquired the power station and is seeking approval to restart the plant using biomass (excluding native forestry residues from logging) (“Redbank Biomass”) as a sustainable fuel to produce near net zero CO₂ emissions and enable the power station to continue to produce “green” electricity (the Proposal). Verdant will also relinquish the current approval to use coal tailings as a fuel at Redbank.

The power station is located at 112 Long Point Rd, Warkworth(Lot 450 DP 1119428) approximately 9 kms west of the township of Singleton. Consultation with the community is underway to seek feedback on this exciting new development for the Hunter.

About Verdant Earth

Founded in 2018, Verdant Earth Technologies is an Australian-based green energy company that owns, develops, and operates green hydrogen and renewable energy assets. Verdant believes the foundation of a net-zero economy is net-zero infrastructure. The Redbank Power Station is central to this strategy and to Verdant’s proposed Renewable Energy Hubin the Hunter Valley.

About the project

Upon restart, the facility will be one of the largest green baseload renewable energy providers in NSW and the only existing facility capable of providing continuous green 24/7 power with near net-zero CO₂ emissions, adding to grid stability. The power station will receive up to 700,000 tonnes of dry biomass per annum for conversion into electricity. The biomass will be transported by trucks to the power station. The existing fuel storage area and modified fuel handling equipment will enable the plant to use the new fuel type.

To address concerns expressed by the community in relation the use of native forestry residues as fuel, Verdant has developed an alternative biomass fuel strategy which specifically excludes this fuel source.

It is proposed that Redbank will be fuelled with sustainable biomass (in compliance with all relevant legislative requirements and excluding native forestry residues from logging) to deliver near net zero CO₂ power generation.

The 151-megawatt power station will use its existing “fluidised bed” technology, well-known for its highly efficient and low emissions profile, to produce 1 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of green baseload power, equivalent to supplying 200,000 homes.

The project is expected to provide:

• Reliable electricity generation with near net zero CO₂
• 1,000,000 MWh of green 24/7 baseload power.
• Support for NSW’s transition to sustainable energy and less reliance on coal.
• An estimated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 96% compared to the currently approved fuel (coal tailings).
• Assistance to the waste recycling industry by reducing waste going to landfill.
• Strength to the economy by creating long-term green jobs and short-term construction jobs.

More information can be found in our fact sheet on the project.

How can I find out more?

View our updated scoping report to understand more about the project.

How can I provide feedback?

We would appreciate your comments and questions on the Proposal by close of business Friday 27th October 2023. Please email or phone us on 02 8056 1849.