The Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC) and Woodside are collaborating on a carbon-to-products pilot project that proposes to recycle greenhouse gases into useful products.

The terms of the collaboration will provide for Woodside’s use of EMRC’s Red Hill Waste Management Eco Park for a proposed pilot Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) facility, and for the supply of landfill gas by EMRC to Woodside.

The proposed CCU facility would convert greenhouse gases, such as methane and carbon dioxide, into value-added ethanol, using a series of technologies. The pilot aims to demonstrate that the integration of these technologies has the potential to contribute to decarbonisation and a circular carbon economy.

Construction of the CCU facility is subject to a final investment decision (FID) by Woodside targeted to occur in the second half of 2022, with a projected completion and commissioning date in the second half of 2024.

EMRC Chairman Cr Mel Congerton said: “Woodside and the EMRC are today jointly announcing an exciting development which aims to radically change the way we approach our aspirations of net zero emissions. It is a major step forward on the journey towards sustainable protection of the environment we all share.

“This collaboration between a regional local government and a global energy company supports the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goal 17 – ‘To strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize partnerships for sustainable development,’” he said.

EMRC CEO Marcus Geisler said the project has the potential to shift the dial on the future treatment of greenhouse gases as a resource, rather than a challenge.

“It will be these kinds of powerful collaborations and innovative decarbonisation initiatives that aim to deliver significant environmental and social benefits to Perth’s Eastern Region, Western Australia and the world.”

Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill said CCU is an emerging field as customers seek lower-carbon solutions.

“Woodside’s climate strategy has two key elements: reducing our net equity Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, and investing in the products and services that our customers need as they too reduce their emissions.

“CCU has the potential to contribute to both elements of our climate strategy.

“To have a pilot CCU facility right here in Western Australia, where Woodside has pioneered other technologies, is also very exciting,” she said.