Bioenergy Australia December 2015 Newsletter - Annual Conference round up and more |
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| | Welcome to the December 2015 Issue of the Bioenergy Australia Newsletter. In this issue, post a successful 2015 Annual Conference, we consider the current state of the sector compared to this time last year, we present additional IEA Bioenergy resources and offer a brief news round up. |
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| What's in this Issue? Dec 2015 |
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| Bioenergy Australia 2015 - Report Back |
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Conference Details and MaterialsThe presentations from this year's Conference are now available from the Bioenergy Australia Conference webpage (specifically Session's One and Two are available as are the presentations from the National Team Leaders for the IEA Bioenergy Tasks in which Bioenergy Australia participates (Tasks 37, 38, 39, 42 and 43) at no cost). Details of the technical tours that formed day three of the Conference are also available.
Access to all the other presentations is available to delegates who attended the Conference. For those who did not attend the conference, the presentations may be accessed upon request to co...@bioenergyaustralia.org (a small fee is payable).
Bioenergy in Australia - Current Status Snap Shot
Its fair to say that the mood at the 2014 Bioenergy Australia was subdued for many as the bioenergy sector appeared to be at the forefront of cuts and a downturn in opportunities. The 2015 Conference was decidedly different in many ways and for many reasons leaving many commentators with hope for growth in the sector in 2016 and beyond.
While recent funding announcements supporting bioenergy projects are welcome (see below) and turn what's possible into real projects, in many cases it is still the lack of a consistent policy direction holding progress back. A case in point here is biofuels where uptake is very much stagnating and in some cases in decline. Hold that thought but consider also, who would have thought this time last year that Queensland would be introducing a biofuels mandate (albeit small in its magnitude)? Due out too in early 2016 is the Queenland Government's Biofuture's Strategy. This year too we have seen several projects come on line using biomass, and co-digestion, maximising the value of organic waste. Add here too the recently announced Bioenergy Roadmap from the South Australia Government and things seem to be edging more towards the positive.
So while international commentators would have us believe that agreements in Paris are a huge step forward, that's as maybe, but in Australia, we are already seeing changes on the ground with respect to bioenergy thanks to favourable project economics, dedicated bioenergy finance opportunities, increased investor confidence and signs that government policies at long last are including bioenergy in the renewable energy mix. Roll on 2016!
Dedicated Bioenergy FinanceFunding - Recent Announcements
Immediately prior to Bioenergy Australia 2015 Australia's bioenergy sector received a very positive boost in the form of announcements from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). The CEFC announced a new dedicated $100 million Bioenergy Fund and a partnership with leading renewables investors from the UK, the Foresight Group. Additionally, its November Report - a sector analysis indicating a very promising future for biogas generation in Australia - also raises hopes. These announcements are in addition to dedicated bioenergy monies from ARENA through their dedicated investment theme: Advancing the commercial development of renewable energy and enabling technologies (which includes bioenergy and biofuels).
Media Coverage
Media Coverage from this year's Conference was an added bonus with ABC Tasmania covering TV, radio and newspaper articles. Immediately prior to the Conference we had welcome support with media coverage from EcoGeneration and Energy Business News (EBN) - our Media Partners for the Conference. See more on the Bioenergy Australia 2015 Conference webpage - 'media articles'.
Next Year - Bioenergy Australia 2016
Bioenergy Australia is pleased to announce that Bioenergy Australia 2016 will be held on the 14th and 15th of November with a technical tour on the 16th of November.
The Conference is being scheduled to link with the IEA Bioenergy EXCO Meetings that are to be held in Rotorua, New Zealand on the Wednesday Thursday and Friday of the previous week.
More details will appear on this page as they become available. If you would like to express early interest in sponsoring or exhibiting at the Bioenergy Australia Conference 2016 or in offering a potential site tour as part of the Conference, contact Steve Schuck at c...@bioenergyaustralia.org.
and Finally....... Thank you! Thank you to those attending delegates, speakers, exhibitors and sponsors who contributed in making this year's event a success. Your continued support ensures that we as a sector Group have a future. Thank you for your comments through the Conference survey and if you were unable to make it to this year's event, we look forward to being able to welcome you to one of our events throughout 2016. |
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IEA Bioenergy Update
Australian Task Participation
Australian bioenergy experts participate in 5 IEA Bioenergy Tasks - Tasks 37, 38, 39, 42 and 43 - find out more on the Bioenergy Australia IEA Bioenergy Task webpages.
Activities during 2015 included webinar sessions on current issues affecting bioenergy developments across the world and in Australia, presentations at Australian and International Conferences and 'Report Backs' from international meetings highlighting the learning's for the Australian bioenergy sector.
Details of the IEA Bioenergy presentations and webinars that Bioenergy Australia has facilitated this past year are available on the Events webpage of the Bioenergy Australia website.
IEA Bioenergy Task specific presentations from Bioenergy Australia 2015 are available on the Bioenergy Australia 2015 webpage. Additionally, the dedicated Task webpages hold Task specific materials of interest.
Task News UpdatesRecent Newsletters and specific Task updates of relevance:
IEA Bioenergy Newsletter December 2015 - IEA Bioenergy News is the newsletter of IEA Bioenergy. This issue covers the ExCo76 meeting in Berlin, Germany in October 2015. It also features an editorial ‘Bioenergy in Germany, a focus on Task 42, the Noticeboard, and recent publications and upcoming events.
Task 37: Energy from Biogas - Newsletter 8/2015 (News articles from the USA) - California offers funding for dairy digester development program - The California Department of Food and Agriculture is now accepting applications for the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program. An estimated $11 million in competitive grant funding is on offer.
- Bioenergy projects to receive CEC funding - The California Energy Commission (CEC) has approved $21 million in grants for energy innovation and efficiency programmes. Almost 12 of these projects, including one to turn dairy manure into biogas, were funded through four key grant and loan programmes.
- E3 releases report on decarbonizing pipeline gas in California - A study commissioned by Southern California Gas investigated the potential role of decarbonized pipeline gas and existing gas pipeline infrastructure. The study concludes that a technology pathway for decarbonized gas could feasibly meet the GHG emission reduction goals, and may even be easier to implement in some sectors.
Task 39 - Austrian Network Biofuels Newsletter #21, 22 and 23 (as part of the Austria Contribution to IEA Bioenergy Task 39):
#21
#22
#23
Task 39 Newsletter This issue of the Task 39 Newsletter (#41 December 2015) features a Biofuels country update from Germany, an update on Task 39’s ongoing work, and a short summary of some of other relevant news in the Biofuels.
Other IEA Tasks of InterestIn addition to the Tasks in which Australia participates, news from the following Tasks are likely also to be of interest for some Members. We note the following recent news / task updates:
Task 32 - Combustion and Cofiring - Recent activities
- Techno-economic evaluation of selected decentralised CHP applications based on biomass combustion with steam turbine and ORC processes - In 2004, Task 32 published a report on the techno-economics of biomass combustion based CHP systems. This new report provides an updated evaluation of the techno-economic performance of three types of biomass combustion based CHP systems, varying from 130 kWe to 5,7 MWe. The report provides a techno-economic evaluation of three case studies that represent the most relevant small-scale CHP technologies based on biomass combustion relevant for the market at present. It points out the differences between the technologies available, their meaningful integration in heat supply systems based on real-life case studies and a technological as well as economic evaluation and comparison between the technologies.
- Report on the commercial status of torrefaction technologies - The maturation and market introduction of torrefaction technologies has gone slower than anticipated 5 years ago, when it was expected that a significant fraction of the biomass pellets supplied today could have been replaced by torrefied pellets. This Task report provides an update of the 2012 report by Task 32, including some of the key results of recent research projects on torrefaction.
Task 34 Pyrolysis - December 2015 Task Newsletter - the Newsletter includes a round up of recent activities and welcomes latest Group Member - New Zealand's lead researcher - Scion.
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What's Bioenergy Australia's involvement in IEA Bioenergy? Find out more on the dedicated IEA Bioenergy Task webpages on the Bioenergy Australia website.
Bioenergy Australia acknowledges the funding from ARENA's Emerging Renewables Program which enables Australia to participate in IEA Bioenergy Tasks. |
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PNG Power Limited has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) with two companies in an effort to provide additional and adequate power supply to Port Moresby, Lae and the Highlands region - Under the independent power producer framework, PPL signed agreements with Oil Search Limited and Landfill Energies Limited. As part of the agreements, Oil Search in partnership with Bioenergy Australia Member Align Energy and through their Markham Biomass project will use wood chips from new plantation trees grown and sustainably harvested in the Markham Valley, to provide low-cost, reliable base load biomass power to support the Ramu power system.
Qld biofuel use likely to fall despite new E3 and B0.5 policies - Biofuel use is expected to fall in Queensland despite a recent move to mandate a 3% ethanol blend that will require about 30% of the state's gasoline to be blended with E10 due to a crash in biodiesel imports. Biodiesel imports have slowed to a trickle as a result of an excise tax on imported bio-based diesel.
In New South Wales gas station owners are to be fined if E10 and 94 octane labels are not updated - In Australia, gas station owners in New South Wales are at risk of up to A$1 million in fines for not updating their pump labels showing 94 octane instead of 91 octane following the introduction of E10. Fines could come as soon as early 2016 against companies and individuals if changes weren't made immediately.
New Investment Mandate for CEFC - The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (Investment Mandate) Directions 2015 (No.2) has been issued by our responsible Ministers the Hon Greg Hunt MP (Minister for the Environment) and Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann (Minister for Finance). This Investment Mandate was signed by the Ministers on 3 December 2015, was registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments on 23 December 2015 and will come into force on and from 24 December 2015. The new Investment Mandate replaces the existing Investment Mandate, which has been in effect since 5 March 2015. A copy of the new Investment Mandate can be found on Comlaw here: https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2015L02114
1MW biogas system for WA Pig Farm - Bio-energy developer Quantum Power has been contracted to develop and install a 1-MW biogas system for a pork producer in Western Australia. Quantum’s parent company Geodynamics said the project would be developed under a build-own-operate-maintain (BOOM) model. Renewable energy will be supplied to the pork producer under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA). The station will yield biogas with 60% methane by converting manure from the pig housing facility at the site.
Newsletter for the project Facilitating Local Network Charges and Virtual Net Metering – Key Article - The AEMC has published a consultation paper on the rule change request on Local Generation Network Credits submitted by the City of Sydney, Total Environment Centre, and the Property Council of Australia. Submissions on the rule change request are due by 4 February 2016.
Congratulations Janine! - The winner of the 2015 Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA) Women in the Environment Award is Janine Price, Environment Program Manager at Australian Pork Limited (APL - a member of Bioenergy Australia). The award recognises the achievements of women who have made a significant contribution to environmental sustainability in Australia in the past five years. Very well done Janine!
AFPA Welcomes New report on Working Native Forests in SE Australia - The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has welcomed the release of a new landmark report into the carbon storage and greenhouse gas reduction benefits from working native forests in south-eastern Australia. The AFPA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ross Hampton, said “This new report, undertaken by leading carbon science experts including from the CSIRO and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, reveals that the carbon benefits from the working forest scenarios were either comparable or, in most cases, greater than simply locking these areas up”.
Biogas CHP from wastewater for Australia poultry plant - Australia’s largest privately-owned poultry business is to install a hybrid combined heat and power (CHP) and wastewater project to power and heat its facility. The project for Baiada Poultry Ltd will first cap ponds containing wastewater from the company’s processing plant. Three GT333S gas-fired microturbines with on-board heat recovery modules from US-based FlexEnergy will use the trapped methane from the ponds, blended with natural gas, to power and heat the plant.
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International News
Aviation industry collaborates to make jet fuel from forest residues - Boeing, the University of British Columbia and SkyNRG, with support from Canada's aviation industry and other stakeholders, are collaborating to turn leftover branches, sawdust and other forest-industry waste into sustainable aviation bio-fuel. Canada, which has extensive sustainably certified forests, has long used mill and forest residues to make wood pellets that are used to generate electricity. A consortium that includes Boeing, Air Canada, WestJet, Bombardier, research institutions and industry partners will assess whether forest waste could also be harnessed to produce sustainable aviation bio-fuel using thermo-chemical processing.
USA Researchers convert biomass into biofuel - Professor Richard Kohn and researcher Seon-Woo Kim, both from the University of Maryland, have been awarded a patent for a fermentation process that aims to produce ethanol from biomass materials. Cellulosic biomass may be derived from living plant resources such as trees and grains.
Experts develop process to produce biofuel from lignin - Bin Yang, an associate professor at Washington State University Tri-Cities, and his team have developed a process that could convert lignin into biofuel, including biobased jet fuel. Yang is working with Boeing to develop and test a biofuel and is also working with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to convert lignin into other products, such as supercapacitors.
French power station generates electricity from cheese - Cheese-based power station in the Alps produces enough power to supply a community of 1,500. A by-product of Beaufort cheese, skimmed whey, is converted into biogas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, at the plant in Albertville, in Savoie. Bacteria are added to the whey to produce the gas, which is then used to generate electricity that is sold to the energy company EDF.
Biogas Opportunities Roadmap Report - In support of the Obama Administration’s Climate Action Plan, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have jointly released the Biogas Opportunities Roadmap Report. This report is an update of the federal government’s progress to reduce methane emissions through biogas systems in the time since the Biogas Opportunities Roadmap was published by the three agencies in August 2014. It highlights actions taken, outlines challenges and opportunities, and identifies next steps to the growth of a robust biogas industry.
San Fran Fleet is truly green - Neste's NEXBTL renewable diesel is now being used by the City and County of San Francisco, California. San Francisco announced December 11, 2015 that the City and County of San Francisco has completely ended its use of petroleum diesel in the City's fleet and replaced it with renewable diesel. This switch from petroleum diesel to renewable diesel will achieve a significant 50 percent greenhouse gas emissions reduction to the city's diesel fleet.
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Events Program 2016In advance of announcing our 2016 Program of Events, can you offer a presentation or technical tour?As part of the process of establishing our program of events and meetings for 2016 we are interested to hear from Members and Friends in the sector if they are keen to present their current project work or to offer a site / technical tour. We expect our program this coming year to deliver the following:
- Periodic day-long Meetings
- Business Breakfast Meetings
- Technical Tours
- Evening Presentations
- Webinar Presentations
- AGM
- Annual Conference
Contact us at co...@bioenergyaustralia.org to discuss opportunities and dates/times. Our Draft Program will be announced in late January 2016. |
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