Renewable energy infrastructure developers are strengthening their environmental commitments by adopting carbon-enriched revegetation products that help to restore disturbed land and improve long-term site sustainability.
As large-scale infrastructure projects expand into more sensitive landscapes, developers and contractors are increasingly seeking technologies that could help restore the land to a better condition than before construction began.
Wind, solar and transmission projects are placing greater emphasis on environmental rehabilitation and carbon-positive outcomes by utilising an Australian-designed and made product that uses biochar to dramatically enhance revegetation.
Vital Chemical’s VE Char-Matt, a biodegradable, carbon-enriched hydraulic growth medium, has become one of the leading products helping operators achieve their revegetation goals.
Queensland-based Vital Chemical has now applied more than 720,000 sqm (72 hectares) of VE Char-Matt since launching the product less than 12 months ago, including at numerous renewable energy projects across the country.
Vital Chemical Director Paul McMullen said VE Char-Matt had quickly emerged as the preferred solution for contractors and developers seeking to repair and revegetate land responsibly while improving overall project sustainability.
“Renewable energy projects are often located in challenging environments where vegetation has been cleared or disturbed during construction,” Mr McMullen said.
“VE Char-Matt allows these areas to be stabilised, reseeded and rehabilitated quickly. It helps improve soil health and support sustainable regrowth long after the project is completed.”
VE Char-Matt combines natural fibres, seed, fertiliser and biochar from reclaimed construction industry timber residues, to create a protective layer that enhances germination, retains moisture and promotes soil recovery. Its carbon-rich composition accelerates revegetation and locks carbon back into the soil, helping projects offset part of their construction footprint.
The product is incredibly versatile, performing well on batters, stockpiles, access tracks and disturbed areas around substations, solar farms and turbine foundations.
Mr McMullen said contractors were under increasing pressure to deliver infrastructure that meets community expectations for environmental care.
“VE Char-Matt gives them a practical way to meet those expectations,” he said. “It is fast to apply, proven to perform, and contributes directly to carbon sequestration. It delivers tangible benefits for both the environment and project outcomes.”
Throughout Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, renewable energy developers are increasingly specifying VE Char-Matt and other sustainable erosion control products from Vital Chemical as part of their environmental management and rehabilitation programs.
In many cases, VE Char-Matt is applied immediately following civil works to stabilise exposed surfaces and encourage rapid vegetation establishment. The carbon-enriched layer provides long-term soil conditioning, reducing erosion and sediment loss while supporting native seed mixes tailored to local conditions.
Beyond its practical revegetation performance, the adoption of biochar-enhanced materials like VE Char-Matt represents a broader shift in environmental management across the renewables sector.
“VE Char-Matt aligns perfectly with the values of the renewables industry, where innovation and environmental stewardship go hand in hand,” Mr McMullen said.
“Developers want to show that renewable energy could be delivered responsibly. VE Char-Matt gives them the means to demonstrate that commitment in a visible and lasting way.”
Vital Chemical continues to work closely with civil, environmental, and renewable energy contractors to deliver practical, sustainable solutions tailored to each project site.
The company’s suite of products supports Australia’s transition to cleaner energy by helping operators reduce environmental risk, strengthen compliance and build long-term resilience into every project.
