Plantation Sustainability – Environment
Bioenergy
What is Bioenergy?
“Bioenergy is the term used to describe energy and energy related products derived from biomass. Biomass refers to organic matter, derived in recent times, directly or indirectly, from plants as a result of photosynthesis.”
(from “Opportunities for Bioenergy in Australia” Dr Stephen Schuck, Australian Forest Growers Conference 2006)
There are developing opportunities in Australia for producing bioenergy from plantation forest residues or from purpose planted forests e.g. manufacturing of bioenergy pellets from blue gum plantation in field waste is being investigated by a new venture, Plantation Energy, in the Great Southern Region of W.A.
Access the following resources for more information about Bioenergy from wood and other forms of biomass:
The NSW Bioenergy Handbook
Offers a one-stop-shop for facts on all aspects of bioenergy for electricity, heating and transport. It helps you find out about:
- benefits and challenges of bioenergy;
- current and future market opportunities;
- the various bioenergy resources and technologies;
- resource location, costs and production in NSW;
- sustainability considerations for all types of bioenergy;
- planning and environmental protection issues; and
- community consultation methods.
To purchase the book go to: NSW II Bioenergy
‘Opportunities for Bioenergy in Australia’
Presented by Dr Stephen Schuck, Bioenergy Australia at the Australian Forest Growers Conference 2006, this paper profiles biomass as a source of sustainable energy. It illustrates the scale and scope of bioenergy world wide and the range of biomass resources that can be converted to heat, power, fuels and other value-added products. It notes the emergence of wood pellets as a renewable fuel.
The paper takes a look at greenhouse gas emissions of bioenergy systems and compares these to several other energy sources. Energy conversion processes and technologies are examined and illustrated by examples of wood fuelled bioenergy plants. Emerging technologies examined are biomass gasification and the production and use of pyrolysis bio-oil. Bioenergy can provide several co-values and co-products and these are briefly covered, together with the various environmental and social values bioenergy can provide. The paper concludes by providing a brief summary of the Australian bioenergy industry.
Download Opportunities for Bioenergy in Australia (pdf)
‘Wood for Alcohol Fuels – Status of technology and cost/ benefit analysis of farm forestry for bioenergy’
Prepared in 2002 for the Joint Venture Agroforestry Program, this report examines the technologies required to produce liquid transport fuels from woody biomass. The alcohols ethanol and methanol can each be produced. Ethanol is produced via fermentation of sugars released from the cellulose and hemicellulose in the wood. Methanol may be produced via gasification of the wood and then catalytic conversion of the gas stream to methanol. Each alcohol can then be sued as a fuel in its own right (in purpose built engines) or via controlled blending with petrol or diesel as appropriate. While technically feasible, neither alcohol is currently produced from wood in commercial quantities in Australia or overseas.
Download Wood for Alcohol Fuels (pdf)
‘Ethanol history being ignored at our cost’
This article, written by Alan Cummine and reproduced from Australian Forest Grower Magazine Autumn 2003, explores the history of technology development for processing ethanol from wood – we have been leaders.
Download the article Ethanol history being ignored at our cost (pdf)
‘Energy from wood – a key part of Australia’s future’
Australia has the potential to be producing at least 20% of its energy needs from woody material within 15 years. This article by Churchill fellow Andrew Lang looks at examples of real woody biomass energy production being used in the Northern hemisphere and makes some suggestions about the opportunities for Australia.
Download Energy from wood (pdf)
Narrogin Integrated Wood Processing Plant – a prototype bioenergy plant in Australia
In mid 2005 Western Power commissioned its prototype bioenergy plant, located in the Western Australian wheatbelt town of Narrogin, which is designed to generate renewable electricity, activated carbon and eucalyptus oil from locally planted oil mallees.
Partners in the project include Western Power, Enecon Pty Ltd, the Australian Greenhouse Office, the Dept of Industry Science and Resources, Department of Transport and Regional Services, CSIRO, the Dept of Conservation and Land Management, the Oil Mallee Co (OMC), the Oil Mallee Association, Murdoch University and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
The plant was highlighted as ‘a model for the future of sustainable agriculture’ in a centre fold article in The Bulletin August 9, 2005 ‘The Future of Australia Part 3 Agriculture and Environment’. ‘So, from a looming salinity crisis, the change in land use promises four new commercial products—oil, energy, charcoal and carbon credits. By 2025, the group aims to have planted 500 million trees.’
Update December 2005: The Narrogin Integrated Processing plant is at a late stage of commissioning and has produced heat and charcoal. A German engineer has recently arrived to commission the steam turbine so electricity should be generated shortly. The two other products, activated carbon and eucalyptus oil will be produced in coming weeks. There has been a numerous engineering challenges associated with a brand new process but overall the plant is operating as expected. Western Power Corporation’s plan is to have all components working and full production of 300 tonnes of biomass per week during January 2006. The Oil Mallee Company of Australia is coordinating harvest and transport operations.
A comprehensive Information Memorandum summarising the findings of the innovative demonstration plant is expected to be produced in the second quarter of 2006. This will be a precursor to Western Power seeking submissions on further commercialisation of the technology.
Download an article about the Narrogin plant (pdf) from the 2020 Vision ‘In Focus’ newsletter August 2005.
Some useful websites
Bioenergy Australia
Established in 1997 as a government-industry forum to foster and facilitate the development of biomass for energy, liquid fuels, and other value added bio-based products, Bioenergy Australia is concerned with all aspects of biomass and bioenergy, from production through to utilisation, and its work embraces technical, commercial, economic, societal, environmental, policy and market issues.
Bioenergy Resource in Victoria
This page of the Sustainability Victoria website describes Bioenergy Resources available in Victoria.
http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/www/html/2113-bioenergy.asp
