Bioenergy Australia Media Release
29 April 2016
Bioenergy Australia welcomes latest bioenergy investment
Bioenergy Australia welcomes the news today that an $800 million multi-faceted biofuel-biopower and pellet fuel production project is one step closer to going ahead. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is providing $3 million support to Renewable Developments Australia (RDA) to help build the business case for a bioethanol and co-generation power plant in Queensland. This is the latest in a growing list of bioenergy projects getting the early support they need.
Dr Stephen Schuck, CEO of Bioenergy Australia said, ”Today’s announcement from ARENA is the latest in a series of welcome developments on project finance. Finance is increasingly more accessible to the bioenergy sector. By providing this funding ARENA is playing a key role is transforming Australia’s bioenergy potential into real jobs and growth. While this is great news for Queensland, rural sectors all over Australia stand to benefit from investments like this one.”
Dr Schuck said that “commercial viability is always a key area of concern with such investments but the combination of ethanol, co-generation from waste lignin and pellet production – a multi product approach – was clearly what had lead to the success of many plants overseas. International experience has shown that successful enterprises are those that have gone beyond the production of only power. Combining the production of fuel with electricity and biomaterials works to ensure the economics are favorable”.
Dr Schuck added that “from a bioenergy perspective Australia benefits not only from a skilled workforce (several leading Universities are playing a key role in bioenergy research and development), but also regional economic growth from utilization of Australia’s significant biomass resources. These are key factors in the future development of the sector and Australia”.
“This kind of funding support from ARENA can only be a good thing. Establishing a solid business case is a key step in demonstrating that an investment in bioenergy is not as risky as it was once considered. Its also important to recognize the strong need for a consistent policy approach on bioenergy. At the end of the day, it’s the availability of finance and a consistent policy that will deliver market confidence and turn Australia’s bioenergy potential into a future reality……..a biofuture”, said Dr Schuck.
About Bioenergy Australia
Bioenergy Australia is an information and networking forum fostering the use of biomass for energy and bio-based products. As the lead forum in Australia for biomass, bioenergy and related bio-products, Bioenergy Australia promotes an awareness and understanding of biomass as a sustainable resource across the supply and value chains. Bioenergy Australia leads Australia’s participation on the international bioenergy front with five Australian bioenergy experts taking part in IEA Bioenergy activities. This involvement is made possible with funding from ARENA’s Emerging Renewables Program. More details at www.bioenergyaustralia.org
Bioenergy Australia 2016
Bioenergy Australia's premier bioenergy conference, Bioenergy Australia 2016, is being held at the Mercure Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland, from Monday 14 November - Tuesday 15 November 2016 with a technical tour on Wednesday, 16 November. Further details are available at http://www.bioenergyaustralia.org/pages/bioenergy-australia-conference-2016.html
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