JBS Australia’s Scone Bioenergy System Now in Operation
- JBS Australia has completed the construction of a bioenergy system at its Scone Processing Plant.
- The bioenergy system commenced operations at the start of May.
- The system will eliminate the equivalent of ~23,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
JBS Australia (“JBS”) has completed the construction of a bioenergy system at its Scone Processing Plant. The system, which is now in operation, captures wastewater emissions to utilise on-site biogases and reduce the Scone Processing Plant’s carbon dioxide emissions.
The bioenergy system has transformed the Scone plant’s wastewater treatment process into a circular flow that captures a naturally occurring by-product from wastewater, known as biogas, which is then utilised as a viable renewable gas.
JBS partnered with Energy360, a leading biogas handling company, to design and install the bioenergy infrastructure. This included the installation of two gas-tight pond covers that encase the plant’s anaerobic wastewater lagoons to prevent biogas and waste odour from entering the atmosphere. This biogas is then redirected for use as a production heat source in substitute of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Through its circular model, the bioenergy system will reduce the equivalent of approximately 23,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. In addition to reducing its emissions, the project has enabled cost-efficiencies by lessening LNG usage and reliance.
This bioenergy system represents one of two biogas projects commissioned this year by JBS Australia, with a total $11.1 million invested across its Scone and Beef City (Toowoomba) facilities.
Sam McConnell, Chief Operating Officer JBS Southern division, said that the Scone bioenergy system demonstrates JBS’s focus on developing innovative solutions to improve sustainability outcomes.
“We’re excited to operate JBS Southern’s first complete bioenergy system at Scone, which aims to simultaneously reduce our emissions and our reliance on LNG. We see significant potential to introduce more renewable energy solutions across our Southern sites, with Scone’s system exemplifying how we can innovate to create processes that boost operational efficiency while lessening our environmental impact,” said Mr McConnell.
James Turner, Scone Processing Plant Manager, said the Scone team is pleased to bring the new bioenergy system into commission and commended the construction workers who seamlessly installed the infrastructure.
“The JBS Scone team is proud to unveil the plant’s new bioenergy system, which was made possible by the combined hard work of our construction contractors, site engineers, and development partner, Energy360. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the design and construction of this project,” said Mr Turner.
“The bioenergy system enables us to make the most of our waste and manage our input costs by introducing an energy source that is naturally derived from our operations.”
Member for New England, the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP toured the new bioenergy system at the Scone plant and said that:
“Increased efficiencies for food processing means more jobs, more money flowing through the community, more food for consumption, and export. It’s about doing things better, and becoming as strong as possible as quickly as possible. You can only do this by looking at where you can improve what you do, with this flowing through to your bottom line. I was pleased to see JBS taking the initiative to lead innovation in the use of biogas for their operations and I look forward to seeing the processing plant provide more jobs and activity into the future.”
JBS Australia also invited Upper Hunter Shire Council Mayor Maurice Collison and local council representatives to tour the Scone Processing Plant and its bioenergy system. Mayor Collison commended JBS Australia for investing in a waste treatment system that considers both the environment and surrounding community:
“We’re pleased to see JBS Australia’s investment into Scone’s sustainability infrastructure come to fruition, which has provided both employment opportunities for local contractors and improved amenities for the community. Through thoughtful engineering, the bioenergy system has transformed a simple process of managing waste into a circular, renewable energy source.”
ENDS
Media contact:
Olga Alexandratos, Director Corporate Communication, Australia & NZ
About JBS Australia
JBS Australia is the largest meat and food processor in Australia with more than 15,000 team members and a strong portfolio of leading beef, lamb, pork, salmon, and value-added branded products. JBS globally is the largest animal protein business and the largest food company in the world, with operations in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The JBS Southern division operates five beef and lamb processing facilities and one feedlot across New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Southern Australia, including the Scone beef facility.
Left to right: Holly Yuille, Corporate Affairs, AGL; Sam McConnell, Chief Operating Officer, JBS Southern; Patient Mupfeki, Engineering Manager, Scone; Everton Melo, Plant Manager in Development, Scone; Wayne Murraylee; General Manager Human Resources, JBS Southern; Neil Brereton, Group Engineer, JBS Southern & Northern; Samantha Lamond, Head of Energy 360; Mayor Maurice Collison, Upper Hunter Shire Council; Martin Brownlee, Environment Compliance Manager, JBS Southern; Greg McDonald, General Manager, Upper Hunter Regional Council; Leanne Ennis, Project Manager, Energy 360; Dennis Liberis, Financial Controller, JBS Southern; James Turner, Plant Manager, Scone; Sean Naden, Operations Manager, JBS Southern; Olga Alexandratos, Director Corporate Communication, JBS Aust.
Left to right: Holly Yuille, Corporate Affairs, AGL; The Hon Barnaby Joyce, Member for New England; James Turner, Plant Manager, Scone; Everton Melo, Plant Manager in Development, Scone; Martin Brownlee, Environment Compliance Manager, JBS Southern; Patient Mupfeki, Engineering Manager, Scone.
