Biomass support builds

Representatives from agencies keen to develop new bioenergy and biofuel industries gathered in Casino, NSW, recently to discuss developing a Sustainable Biomass Supply Alliance and to see the successful mallee harvester in action.

Peter Zurzolo, CEO Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre, said he was overwhelmed by the support shown for the creation of such an organisation.

“We had representatives from a number of organisations with a major interest in developing biofuel and bioenergy industries in Australia. Without exception, they are ready to get things happening,” Zurzolo said.

“The aviation industry was strongly represented, indicating strong support in this sector for the development of sustainable aviation fuel sources.”

David White, Virgin Australia’s Manager Sustainability, said his company had been working with others to develop the potential of biofuels for some time.

“We recognise that it is imperative to find alternatives to fossil fuels and biofuel is our best option to reduce carbon emissions from the aviation industry,” White said.

Michael Edwards, General Manager Boeing Research & Technology - Australia, noted the strategic importance of developing sustainable fuel sources for the aviation industry.

“The combined resources of the proposed alliance will facilitate the coherent development of sustainable fuel sources from feedstock in Australia in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner,” Edwards said.

Zurzolo said that an important message from the meeting was that while it was possible to import technology to create biofuel, the biomass to produce it would need to be sourced locally.

“This means that developing sustainable biomass production systems in Australia is critical to the development of biofuels.

“It is important to ensure that biomass can be sourced at the lowest possible cost, with a secure long-term, sustainable supply,” Zurzolo said.

Zurzolo said the CRC’s work on mallee eucalypt biomass showed that biomass users are largely ambivalent about the type of biomass they use, providing it fits their processing requirements and is low-cost, abundant and environmentally sustainable.

“We know that mallee biomass fits these requirements, but so too do other feedstocks.

“A Sustainable Biomass Supply Alliance would investigate the potential of a range of biomass sources and how to package this to get biomass plants established. It is critical that we determine the potential biomass supply options and quantify the costs, risks and sustainability of multiple supply options so we can attract investment in new biomass plants.

“Regional biomass plants could completely transform rural Australia and the energy sector. The environmental benefits are potentially enormous.”

The meeting was organised at the CRC’s invitation and the day’s events included a demonstration of the recently completed mallee harvester.

“The CRC supported the development of the mallee harvester because we know such a machine is integral to a successful biomass supply chain based on mallee trees. The successful harvester, which was built by Biosystems Engineering, is the culmination of 15 years’ dedicated effort from many individuals and organisations. It proves what can be done with vision and commitment,” Zurzolo said.

“In our work on mallee eucalypt biomass we are constantly asked the same questions - people want to know if the fuel will work in their engines, what it will cost and whether it is sustainable.

“We are confident that there are positive answers to these questions, but there is a challenge to get answers for a range of different feedstocks and to deliver on the promise of potentially large quantities of economically competitive, suitable and sustainable biomass. This proposed alliance will address these questions and improve industry knowledge of costs, sustainability and scale.

“Achieving our objectives will require a substantial investment and we are seeking broad industry support to move ahead. We also intend to seek government support through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.”