Australia holds all the ingredients for a thriving biogas industry. What role will SEEPEX play as part of this?
Australia’s biogas industry holds considerable untapped potential.
Studies by government agencies and industry bodies indicate that the country has abundant organic resources capable of supporting large-scale biogas and biomethane production.
Despite this strong foundation, development has progressed slowly compared to other renewable sectors.
Many existing facilities still focus on landfill gas capture or small-scale agricultural digestion, while biomethane upgrading and grid injection remain in their early stages.
Growing interest from policymakers and investors, however, suggests that the sector is now entering a period of renewed momentum, driven by its potential to reduce emissions, create regional jobs and strengthen Australia’s energy security.
According to Grand View Research, the Australian biogas industry is tipped to grow from about $US3.53 billion ($5.01 billion) in value in 2023 to $US4.88 billion ($6.93 billion) by 2030, driven largely by municipal, industrial and agricultural waste-to-energy sectors. Realising this potential requires addressing policy gaps, technical constraints, and operational challenges.
Policy landscape and political drivers
Australia currently lacks a unified national framework for biomethane, limiting sector development.
The national Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) provides broad support for bioelectricity, while the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has funded pilot biogas projects such as the Delorean SA1 biomethane upgrading project. This will divert approximately 70,000 tonnes per annum of commercial and industrial (C&I) food waste from landfill and mitigate methane emissions.
Amendments to the Safeguard Mechanism in 2023 increased incentives for industrial decarbonisation, enhancing biomethane’s potential for large emitters.
State governments are also introducing measures such as harmonised waste levies and renewable gas mandates.
Despite this progress, policy fragmentation and uncertain revenue streams remain hurdles for many projects. Recoverable biomethane on the east coast alone could meet more than a quarter of regional fossil gas demand, underlining the potential for stronger policy support in the near future.
Plant operators face persistent challenges in biogas production. Agricultural digesters must handle heterogeneous feedstocks including manure, straw, silage, and foreign debris such as stones or bedding, all of which contribute to wear, blockages, and pump stress.
Fluctuating solids content, particle size, and viscosity further complicate pumping and maintaining consistent feed. Sand, grit, and other abrasives accelerate wear on pump internals and downstream components, resulting in more frequent maintenance and reduced service life.
Continuous operation increases the cost impact of downtime, while digestate handling and dewatering demand reliable conveyance to prevent plugging or damage. Controlling operating expenses and ensuring long asset lifetimes is essential, particularly for small and medium-scale plants.
SEEPEX pumps for efficient biogas production
Efficient biomass slurry processing is crucial for maximising biogas output, and SEEPEX is a global leader in progressive cavity pumps that deliver reliability and high performance in demanding conditions.
Macerators break down solid organic material, increasing surface area for microbial conversion, while progressive cavity pumps maintain steady flow into digesters, optimising fermentation and boosting biogas yield.
Technical challenges during slurry transfer, particularly in agricultural or industrial settings with solid manure, straw, stones, or industrial debris, are mitigated by SEEPEX’s Easy Maintenance solutions. These designs reduce downtime and simplify repairs, ensuring continuous, efficient operation.
SEEPEX Smart Conveying Technology (SCT) is particularly valuable. Its patented two-piece rotor-stator design allows maintenance without removing pipework, cutting downtime by up to 85 per cent.
An integrated re-tensioning device compensates for wear, extending rotor and stator life by up to 200 per cent, reducing costs and enhancing long-term performance. Retrofit kits offer cost-effective upgrades without major modifications, supporting sustainability and productivity.
SEEPEX pumps also handle digestate efficiently, with models such as the BTEX from the T range performing reliably under challenging conditions. Advanced control systems like the BGDC (biogas dosing control) manage dosing, mixing, and pumping of liquids and solids, ensuring optimal ratios, operational safety, and efficiency.
Decades of global installations gives SEEPEX insight into operational challenges, from abrasive slurries to complex maintenance, supporting robust, field-proven solutions.
For plant operators, the feasibility of a biogas facility depends on optimising the cost per unit of biogas and maintaining operational reliability.
Progressive cavity pumps from SEEPEX provide lower shear stress, stable volumetric flow, and tolerance of solids and entrained gas compared with centrifugal or peristaltic alternatives.
Modular, scalable designs and retrofit options, such as SCT kits, allow incremental expansion and upgrades without major civil works. Longer pump life and reduced maintenance needs improve internal rates of return by lowering downtime and repair costs.
Performance and reliability for biogas plants
Australia’s biogas sector stands at a pivotal point, where reliable equipment and technical expertise can transform potential into commercially viable operations.
Engaging with SEEPEX provides access to high-performance pumps and macerators specifically designed for slurry and digestate, maintainable solutions that reduce downtime, and advanced control systems that optimise plant operations.
Whether commissioning new digesters, expanding capacity, or retrofitting existing facilities, SEEPEX delivers comprehensive solutions that maximise productivity, mitigate risk, and support long-term sustainability in renewable energy generation.
For more information, visit seepex.com
This feature appeared in the Summer 2025/26 edition of Pump Industry.
