Nutty powerplant begins operation

The worlds first electricity powerplant fuelled by tonnes of waste macadamia nut shells was officially commissioned in Queensland September 2003. The plant can convert 1680 kg/h of waste into 1.5 MW of electricity. It will initially process 5000t of shell in its first year and turn a substantial waste stream into a profitable revenue earner for Suncoast Gold Macadamias (SGM). It includes a 350t macadamia nit silo (18m high and 10m wide), a 6MW high-pressure steam boiler producing 9t/h of steam and a 1467kW steam turbine to generate about 9.5GWh/a of electricity.