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ARTICLE · 17 NOVEMBER 2021

Challenges ahead as Victoria caps thermal energy from waste

Corrs Chambers Westgarth
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Thermal waste to energy facility operators will need a cap licence to recover energy from permitted waste.

AustraliaEnergy and Natural Resources
Anthony Arrow
Anthony Arrow
Edward Kelly
Edward Kelly
Joseph Barbaro
Joseph Barbaro
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The Victorian waste to energy framework will introduce a 1 million tonne per year cap on the amount of waste that can be sent to thermal waste to energy in Victoria to 2040. The waste to energy cap will be implemented in legislation and supported by regulations and by guidance issued by Victoria's new waste and recycling regulator, with a review of the framework to occur in 2023.

Facilities and processes to which the cap applies

For the purposes of the cap, 'thermal waste to energy' refers to any thermal process used:

  • to recover energy from waste in the form of heat, which may be converted into steam or electricity; and/or

  • to produce a fuel from waste.  

Examples include combustion, gasification and pyrolysis (or any hybrid variant).

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