Bioenergy Australia February 2016 Newsletter |
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| | Welcome to the February 2016 Issue of the Bioenergy Australia Newsletter. In this issue we welcome new Member Manildra Group, reflect on our Business Breakfast Meeting in Sydney and present a round up of national and international news. |
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| What's in this Issue? Feb 2016 |
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| REMINDERS - Business Breakfast Brisbane - April (date and program tbc)
- IEA Bioenergy Task 37 Webinar - 28 April 2016 (more details soon)
- Planning for the third Emissions Reduction Fund auction - The Clean Energy Regulator has announced the third Emissions Reduction Fund auction will be held on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 April 2016. More details on the Clean Energy Regulator website.
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Bioenergy Finance and Inner City Bioenergy
Thanks to all who participated in our recent Business Breakfast in Sydney. With a turn out of over 80 delegates this was one of our busiest Business Breakfasts yet!
Financing for Bioenergy is increasingly available as is clear from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation's (CEFC) Initiative with the Foresight Group and also the ARENA funding programs. Compared to this time last year, things are certainly moving in the right direction.
Our site visit to the Grocon Gasifiers in Pitt Street offered insight into just what is possible in an inner city environment and also a lesson about teething troubles and the barriers that exist from the planning and regulatory approvals' perspective. Thanks to Grocon and Recycling Technologies Ltd for facilitating this tour.
Thank you to our sponsors DPI NSW and CEFC and also to The Hon. Anthony Roberts MP, NSW Minister for Resources, Industry and Energy who provided the opening address. |
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Our Business Breakfast events are free to members and we charge a small fee for non members to attend. Presentations are available after the event to attendees and to members. Contact co...@bioenergyaustralia.org if you are interested in accessing the presentations. |
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| Welcome to our newest member - Manildra Group |
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Based in NSW, Manildra is a multi product company (including the production of ethanol) with sustainability and innovative approaches as cornerstones to their business. The Manildra Group is Australia’s largest producer of fuel-grade ethanol. The most common product sold in Australia is E10 produced when unleaded fuel is enhanced by 10% Australian made ethanol. Find out more at http://www.manildra.com.au/. |
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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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Making contact from Slovenia - ALGAEIn advance of Bioenergy Australia 2016, our Annual Conference, we are keen to facilitate opportunities to make contacts in advance. A request has come in from Slovenia, re the intention to present at the conference but also the desire to make business contacts in Australia prior to this.
Introducing T&T Inzeniring d.o.o - Together with the company Algen d.o.o. - www.algen.si - Ljubljana/Slovenia we have developed unique biologic process for cleaning wastewater from Biogas plants (piggery, poultry, organic food waste, ...) using green algae. For over a year they are reported to have had a 100 m2 experimental and demonstration pond at Koto d.o.o. - http://www.kotoweb.si/en.
Koto Biogas plant - 0.5 MW, uses organic waste such as waste from restaurants, oils, fats, ... for producing energy The process is fully automated and computer controlled (SCADA). The product is algae biomass, which can be used for different purposes as: re fertilizer for biogas, protein food for fish, animals, cosmetology ... and clean water. Water can be cleaned 95% of heavy metals. With additional treatment even 100%. For a basic explanation watch this demo video http://algaebiogas.eu/raw/project_video.mp4. Tomaz Tramus can be reached at t...@t-2.net.
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Ingham biofuels project gets planning extension - Queensland’s ambitions to be a major biofuel producer are still on track with a proposed $550 million super sugar mill and biofuel refinery at Ingham granted a planning extension to 2020. The North Queensland Bio Energy Mill will create as many as 450 jobs during construction and then 250 permanent jobs, but the project has been delayed by volatile world markets. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says her Government is also looking to establish a Biofutures Industry Development fund which would look to facilitate investment in the biofuels industry.
Chip exports reach new high - Australia has increased exportation of Eucalyptus chips by 58% in three years to reach a record-high in 2015, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. Shipments to pulp mills in China have gone up substantially and the costs for chips landed in this growing market have increased the past two years to practically equal those of chip costs delivered to Japan.
Eucalyptus chip export volumes from Australia were up 15% in 2015 year-over- year to reach a record-high of 5.2 million tons, valued at almost one billion Australian dollars. ($912/t) Shipments have increased for three consecutive years and were in 2015 about 58% higher than they were in 2012.
AU$14 million forestry transformation centre now open – The Training Centre for Forest Value has formally been opened at Electrona in southern Tasmania. The Australia Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Forest Value is a collaboration between the University of Tasmania and seven industry partners including Forico, the Pre Fab Lab, SFM Environmental Solutions, and Forestry Tasmania.
Australian university prepares to bring UCO biodiesel plant online this year - CQ University (Cairns) is getting ready to bring online its UCO biodiesel plant that it has been developing over the past five years with an eye on commercial scale. Industry, including Caltex, has shown interest in the facility that could produce millions of litres per year, though its exact production capacity hasn’t yet been determined. Production costs are estimated at around 30 cents per litre. Caltex is currently testing the fuel in Melbourne and Brisbane in hopes of beginning to blend the fuel later this year.
New owners for Quantum Power Ltd. - Australia-based Geodynamics Ltd. has set its sights on becoming a diversified clean energy and services company. The first step in this process was the July acquisition of biogas company Quantum Power Ltd. Quantum has been focusing on growing agribusiness and municipal waste sectors in Australia. Together, Geodynamics and its wholly owned subsidiary, Quantum, are working to build a portfolio of build, own, operate and maintain (BOOM) projects in the biogas sector.
Victoria takes up anaerobic digestion - Victoria is investing AUS$300,000 in anaerobic digestion (AD) projects to keep organic waste out of landfill and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The funding will support local government and businesses to install small-scale on-site or precinct-scale AD technology for organics recovery and as an alternative energy source.
Tasmania considers biomass power - The Tasmanian government, is actively considering the use of biomass as a renewable energy source. Tasmania Minister for Resources Paul Harriss said that due to recent unprecedented events, including the failure of the Basslink, which is the world’s second longest undersea electricity cable, and low rainfall, the government is now considering the use of biomass to generate energy. Specifically, the government is considering the use of residues from value-added forest operations. Harriss estimated significant volumes of residues to be generated to power approximately 70,000 homes for a year.
Tiny red crystals dramatically increase biogas production - UNSW Australia-led researchers have discovered a way to produce a tenfold increase in the amount of methane gas emitted by naturally occurring microbes living in coal seams and on food waste. The innovation could benefit the environment by extending the lifespan of coal seam gas wells, as well as improving the economics of using woody crops and left-over food as commercial sources of biogas.
Vote for Bernadette! - A/Prof Bernadette McCabe (USQ) is our National Team Leader for IEA Bioenergy Task 37 - Energy from Biogas - Vote for Bernadette in the Queensland Women in STEM Research Prize 2016 - more here - http://www.thinkable.org/submission_entries/YZPXE0ZX#
RESOURCE - CEFC Report on the potential of Bioenergy in Australia - read the report. |
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| BIOENERGY AUSTRALIA 2016
Mark your diary NOW
Conference Date - 14 - 15 Nov (16 Nov - Technical Tour) 2016
Conference Venue and City - TBC SOON! |
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RESOURCE - History and future of domestic biogas plants in the developing world - read the article.
RESOURCE - A Macroeconomic Analysis of Bioenergy Use to 2020 - An analysis using the Sustainable Energy Economy Model – New Report from the Sustainable Energy Agency Ireland.
RESOURCE - IEA and GBEP launch bioenergy and water paper - In Italy, IEA Bioenergy and the Global Bioenergy Partnership have published the 'Examples of Positive Bioenergy and Water Relationships' which includes examples that illustrate an encouraging variety both in terms of bioenergy systems and geographical distribution, and shows how solutions can be found that produce bioenergy while contributing positively to the state of water. These experiences are also meant to serve as sources of inspiration that other bioenergy producers can use to enhance the sustainability of their own activities.
RESOURCE - 2014-15 national greenhouse and energy information is now available. The Clean Energy Regulator has released the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) data for 2014-15.
RESOURCE - UN report shows development in biofuels industry - A report from the United Nations said the second-generation biofuels industry reached its full potential following measures addressing climate change and economic pressures, as well as advancement in technology. The UN said expenses in the industry were reduced through market expansion.
GE to Build Largest Biomass-fired Plant in the World - GE recently announced that it has been selected by Mechelen-based Belgian Eco Energy to build the largest greenfield, 100 percent biomass-fired power plant in the world. The plant, which will be powered by wood chips and agro residues, will generate approximately 215 megawatts (MW) of clean energy for the industry and nearby households reaching over 60 percent efficiency when operating in cogeneration mode. This deal demonstrates the value of GE’s newly expanded portfolio of solutions for customers based on the combined strength of GE’s Steam Power Systems and Alstom’s energy technologies.
JetBlue goes Green - JetBlue Airways has announced that it has joined The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). As the first U.S. airline member, JetBlue joins 100 other like-minded organizations in creating a market and standard for sustainable biomass and bio-based products. The RSB is an independent and global multi-stakeholder coalition which works to promote the sustainability of biomaterials. JetBlue will participate in discussions relating to the aviation sector.
Comet Biorefining to build cellulosic sugar plant - Comet Biorefining, Inc. has announced the location of its commercial scale biomass derived sugar facility in the Trans Alta Energy Park in Sarnia, Ontario. The 60 million pounds per year plant will come online in 2018 producing dextrose sugar from locally sourced corn stover and wheat straw. Corn stover consists of residues left in the field after harvest including stalks, leaves, husks and cobs. |
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Introducing HomeBioGas!
Now available in Australia, HomeBioGas™ offers an advanced, compact and cost-effective anaerobic digesters that convert kitchen waste and animal manure into cooking gas and liquid fertiliser, while maintaining highest safety and health standards. For more details on this innovative small scale biogas unit check out the HomeBioGas Website. |
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BA 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 was announced in late January 2016. |
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International BIOGAS Event 2017Fourth International Conference Progress in Biogas 2017 - Call for Papers
A/Prof Bernadette McCabe, Australia's National Team Leader for IEA Bioenergy Task 37, has been invited to be a member of the Scientific Committee of the Fourth International Conference Progress in Biogas. The conference is organized by the International Biogas and Bioenergy Centre of Expertise (http://www.biogas-zentrum.de/) and the Hohenheim University.
The venue of the conference will be at the University campus. The conference will take place on March 8th and 9th 2017 and on March 10th four Workshops will be organized. More details and Call for Papers (closing May 2016). |
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Well Writ was established by Dr Joely Taylor in 2010 to provide technical writing and editing services to select clients in research, government and private industry. Joely has worked across the bioenergy, biofuels and timber industries since 1995 and was a research scientist at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) for ten years. She is an Accredited Editor (AE) with the Institute of Professional Editors Limited in Australia and an Editor in the Life Sciences (ELS) with the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences in the United States.
Well Writ specialises in editing technical documents and writing and editing government and consultants’ reports. Working closely with clients, Well Writ provides individually tailored services for both writing and editing requirements.
Based in Melbourne, Australia, Well Writ provides services to clients in Australia and New Zealand. Please contact Joely at well...@internode.on.net for further information on editing and writing services or browse the website at www.wellwrit.com.au for testimonials and a list of editing and writing examples.
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Disclaimer - The material presented in this newsletter is drawn from third party sources for the interest of our readers. Mention of any companies or services does not necessarily imply endorsement. Readers should make their own inquiries into any claims made in the links. |
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