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Newsletter July 2006 |
Bioenergy Australia 2006 Conference
The Bioenergy Australia 2006 – A Growth Opportunity for Energy and the Environment Conference, will held at the Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle from 6-7 December with a conference tour on 8 December. This conference follows last yearís very successful annual conference held in Melbourne which attracted close on 200 delegates. The keynote speaker for this year will be Professor Jack Saddler from the University of British Columbia, Canada, who is the Task Leader for the International Energy Agencyís Bioenergy Task on Liquid Biofuels, and who is set to lead the successor Task on Commercialising First and Second Generation Biofuels from January 2007. Professor David Panell of UWA has agreed to be the conference dinner speaker.
At this stage the conference program is being developed, with several presentations across the spectrum of bioenergy having been confirmed at this point. Expressions of interest are still being sought for potential presentations and posters, sponsors, and trade exhibitors for the Conference. If interested, please contact Stephen Schuck, Bioenergy Australia Manager Tel/Fax: (02) 9416 9246 Email: sschuck@bigpond.net.au to express your interest. It is expected that the preliminary program will be available in about a monthís time, when registrations will open. Please diarise this event and watch the Bioenergy Australia (http://www.bioenergyaustralia.org) and the Conference Action (http://www.conferenceaction.com.au) web pages for updates.
Bioenergy Australia Membership
Bioenergy Australia has for the past nine years engaged its membership on a three year cycle. This is mainly to underpin Australiaís participation in IEA Bioenergy, which is similarly a three year rolling commitment. Memberships for the period July 2006-June 2009 are currently being confirmed. Bioenergy Australia wishes to further expand its membership and invites interested organisations to contact the Bioenergy Australia Manager, Dr Stephen Schuck on tel/fax (02) 9416 9246 or email: sschuck@bigpond.net.au if your organisation is interested in joining this bioenergy forum. Bioenergy Australia has specifically set up a membership tier to cater for universities and for organisations with an annual turnover of less than $2 million per annum.
IEA Bioenergy Participation by Australia
Bioenergy Australia is the vehicle for Australia's participation in the International Energy Agency's (IEA) Bioenergy program. Bioenergy Australia is providing Australia's annual membership fees and other support for five Tasks, in which it is participating:
… Task 30 - Short Rotation Crops for Bioenergy Systems
… Task 31 - Biomass Production for Energy from Sustainable Forestry
… Task 32 - Biomass Combustion & Co-firing
… Task 36 - Energy from Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems
… Task 38 - Greenhouse Gas Balances of Biomass & Bioenergy Systems
Subgroups from the Bioenergy Australia membership have formed to participate in these Tasks, with each Task selecting a National Team Leader (NTL) to co-ordinate involvement.
Should you or your organisation wish to obtain information on IEA Bioenergy or on participation in IEA Bioenergy Tasks, please contact Steve Schuck, the Bioenergy Australia Manager and Australia's representative on the Executive Committee of IEA Bioenergy. Tel/Fax: 02 9416 9246, or email: sschuck@bigpond.net.au. IEA Bioenergy Task information and the latest IEA Bioenergy newsletter are available from http://www.ieabioenergy.com.
IEA Bioenergy Meetings
Task 30 – Short Rotation crops for Bioenergy Systems is to hold its next workshop in Oxford, UK during the week commencing 18 September 2006. Brendan George, the Task 30 National Team Leader is planning to attend this meeting. The Web site for Task 30 is http://www.shortrotationcrops.com.
Task 31 – Biomass Production for Energy from Sustainable Forestry will be holding its next workshop Biofuels and Bioenergy: Challenges and Opportunities, in Vancouver, Canada, 28 August to 1 September 2006. This will be organised jointly by Tasks 29, 31 and 39 of the IEA Bioenergy program, with the workshop co-hosted by the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Forestry. Task 31 is planning an optional 2-3 day field study tour immediately prior to the start of the workshop to enable participants to visit the mountain pine beetle outbreak area and to view the diverse range of landscapes and ecosystems between the central interior and the coast of British Columbia. This tour is planned to start in Prince George in central British Columbia and end in Vancouver. The new URL for Task 31 is: http://www.ieabioenergytask31.org.
Task 32 – Biomass Combustion and Co-firing – held its most recent meeting in conjunction with the World Bioenergy Conference and Exhibition in J–nk–ping, Sweden on 30 May to 1 June 2006. Steve Schuck attended this meeting. Further information is available from http://www.ieabcc.nl/. The next Task 32 meeting with the theme ëCorrosion and Deposit Formationí and will be held in Glasgow, Scotland from 18-21 September 2006.
Task 36 – Energy from Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems held its most recent half yearly meeting in Amsterdam in June 2006. This was attended by Mark Glover, the National Task Leader for Task 36. The Task 36, Topic 1, Stage 1&2 report on linking extended producer responsibility to energy-from-waste is now on the Web at: http://www.wmaa.asn.au/efw/task36.pdf.
Task 38 – Greenhouse Gas Balances of Biomass and Bioenergy Systems held a combined workshop entitled Greenhouse Gas Credits Trade Versus Biomass Trade – Weighing the Benefits with IEA Bioenergy Task 40 (International Trade in Biomass), 5-6 April 2006 in Trondheim, Norway. This was attended by Annette Cowie, National Team Leader for this Task.
ExCo 56 (Executive Committee meeting) was held in Paris, France from 17-19 May, attended by Steve Schuck. Much of the agenda related to the Tasks on offer from January 2007 till December 2009. The next ExCo meeting is scheduled to be held in Stockholm, Sweden from 3-5 October, where Task participation for the next triennium will be confirmed.
Renewable Energy Development Initiative: Round Three Opens
The Renewable Energy Development Initiative (REDI) is a $100 million, competitive merit-based grants program supporting renewable energy innovation and related early stage commercialisation. Grant offers range between $50,000 and $5 million for research and development, proof-of-concept, and early-stage commercialisation projects with high commercial and greenhouse gas abatement potential. Projects applications are invited from the biomass, solar, wind, geothermal, hydro and ocean energy sectors.
The Renewable Energy Development Initiative has to date delivered grants in excess of $33 million to 16 Australian companies nationwide. AusIndustry, the Australian Governmentís business program delivery division in the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, delivers the program.
Applications for Round Three of REDI close on 13 September 2006 at 5pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time). For further information about the Renewable Energy Development Initiative see: http://www.ausindustry.gov.au.
House of Representatives Inquiry into Geosequestration of Greenhouse Gases
The House of Representatives Science and Innovation Committee has announced a new inquiry into the potential management of greenhouse gases using the process of geosequestration, which is the capturing of carbon dioxide emissions and storing them underground.
Geosequestration involves the injection of compressed CO2 underground into geological
formations including oil and gas fields and deep saline formations. The Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, has requested that the Committee inquire into and report on the science and application of geosequestration technology in Australia, with particular reference to:
… The science underpinning geosequestration technology
… The potential environmental and economic benefits and risks of such technology
… The skill base in Australia to advance the science of geosequestration technology
… Regulatory and approval issues governing geosequestration technology and trials; and
… How to best position Australian industry to capture possible market applications.
Interested persons and organisations are invited to make written submissions to the inquiry by Friday 18 August 2006, after which the Committee will hold public hearings. Further details, including the terms of reference, membership of the Committee and advice on making submissions can be obtained on the Committeeís website at http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/scin/index.htm or by contacting the committee secretariat on (02) 6277 4150, Email: scin.reps@aph.gov.au.
APEC Biofuels Task Force
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Ministers have created a Biofuels Task Force to enable APEC member economies to better understand the potential for biofuels to displace oil in transport. The work of the task force will focus on key issues affecting the potential of biofuels, including biofuels economics, distribution infrastructure, market penetration of flex-fuel vehicles, and available biofuel resources and trade.
A set of task groups are being established to address each of these issues in more depth. The objective of each task group will be to produce an analysis covering the following specific key topics:
- Economics: the costs of producing transport fuels from different forms of biomass, in comparison to the projected costs of automotive fuels from oil;
- Infrastructure: infrastructure requirements for adapting fuelling stations to biofuels, the cost of meeting such requirements, and how fast adaptations should be made;
- Vehicles: practical measures for promoting flexible fuel vehicles that are biofuel capable, and how fast such vehicles can be expected to penetrate the market;
- Resources: the likely extent of biofuel resources in terms of land that might be available to cultivate crops for biofuel production and associated biofuel output; and
- Trade: the potential benefits of trade in biofuels, in view of the fact that biofuels can be produced from a variety of crops at different costs across the APEC region.
The Task Force will formulate conclusions and policy responses to be put to the APEC Energy Working Group for appropriate consideration by APEC Energy Ministers at the next APEC Energy Ministers Meeting in May 2007.
WA Rural Renewable Energy Program
The Western Australian government recently announced the introduction of the Rural Renewable Energy Program. The program provides rebates for renewable energy power systems in specific rural areas on the fringes of the South West electricity grid. The objectives of the Rural Renewable Energy Program are to:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Help provide more effective electricity supplies for people in rural areas
- Assist in developing the Australian renewable energy industry
- Assist development in regional areas
- Raise awareness of renewable energy and the value of distributed generation.
The program will support distributed, small-scale renewable energy systems that generate electricity close to where it is needed, rather than transmitting electricity over long distances from centralized power generation sources. Rebates of up to 50 percent of the capital cost of eligible renewable energy systems are available through the program, which is divided into two components: one targeting small systems (500W to 30kW) and another targeting medium sized systems (30kW to 2MW). Rebates applications for small systems will be made on a first in, first served basis, while medium sized applications will be assessed through competitive funding rounds.
Applications will soon be requested for the first funding round for medium projects. Parties interested in making an application are asked to please provide their name and email address to sedo@energy.wa.gov.au or contact Rebecca Driscoll on (08) 9420 5606.
SA Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Bill
The South Australian government has launched legislation to enforce reduction targets to greenhouse gas emissions, with the legislation proposing to commit the state to reducing emissions by over 60 percent of the 1990s level by 2050. The Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Bill has been released for public consultation. The bill will commit South Australia to increasing the use of green power to 20 percent by 2014, which is five percent higher than the voluntary target set down in South Australiaís Strategic Plan.
The legislation, the first of its kind in Australia, commits the government to develop policy initiatives and interim targets to reach the 60 percent emissions target, and the draft bill has been released for three months of public consultation before its parliamentary introduction. The full text of the bill is available from http://www.climatechange.sa.gov.au/PDFs/FINAL_Bill.pdf.
Biofuels Development in the Red Meat Industry
Meat & Livestock Australia, Midfield Meat International, Australian Meat Processorsí Corporation and Sustainability Victoria have launched an initiative designed to produce biodiesel from tallow (animal fat). The project, being developed at Midfield Meats in Warnambool, Victoria, is funded by the red meat industry and has the potential to produce over 10 million litres of biodiesel from animal fat every year. This biodiesel will be sold on the open market as well as being used to fuel Midfieldís own transport fleet.
Meat & Livestock Australiaís Environment Manager, Dr Stewart McGlashan, said that biodiesel had been established as a proven fuel with a favourable emission profile. He also stated that not only is it becoming increasingly important to manage natural resources, but to build the environmentally friendly, but still competitive, red meat industry. Meat and Livestock Australia view this initiative as a significant step towards achieving these environmental goals within a globally competitive framework.
The Victorian government, through Sustainability Victoriaís Business Energy Efficiency Initiative, provided a $66,000 partner grant for the project. The Midfield Meat Group operates one of the largest red meat processing plants in Australia as well as a rendering plant, a pastoral company and a transport business. The Midfield Meat Group is also reviewing the viability of developing a cogeneration plant to power the abattoir.
BP Australia Embraces Biofuels
BP Australia has announced a boost to biofuels, announcing it will invest in refining and distribution infrastructure and secure product to enable biofuels to play a role in future Australian petroleum supplies.
BPís initiatives include investment to allow production, at Brisbaneís Bulwer Refinery, of 110 million litres per annum of a biomass based synthetic diesel, through new technology, with fuel coming to market from 2007. Biomass feedstock for this process has been secured through a tallow supply contract from Colyer Fehr Tallow.
BP has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Primary Energy to purchase the entire output from a new ethanol plant to be constructed by Primary Energy in Kwinana, Western Australia, which will be sold as E10. The E10 fuel blended in Western Australia will be sold in Perth and to other suppliers in Western Australia from 2008. The Kwinana plant will also generate renewable electricity from biomass as an integral part of its process. Together, the renewable fuel and electricity will result in a reduction in greenhouse gases to the order of 200,000 tonnes per annum. BP has now sold more than 20 million litres of E10 in Australia.
For further information see: http://www.bp.com.au.
Queensland Biodiesel Production Facilities
Eco Tech Holdings Australia, a joint venture between Bioenergy Australia member Gull Petroleum and a group of investors has constructed a 75 million litres per annum biodiesel facility at Narangba, 38 km north of Brisbane. More recently Gull Petroleum has acquired full ownership of the plant. Production of biodiesel has commenced, with a significant amount of product already forward sold. The plant is based on proven European technology. The facility uses tallow as the main feedstock. However the plant has the ability to use a wide range of feedstocks, including vegetable oils, used cooking oils and fats, and tallow. The Queensland governmentís Investment Action Unit has provided assistance to this project.
Coincidently, the Australian Biodiesel Group has also established a 160 million litres per annum biodiesel plant at Narangba. This plant is currently ramping up production, using mainly canola oil.
Queensland Company Announces China Energy Deal
In a deal reported to be worth over $500 million, Brisbane-based company, Pulse Energy, has signed an agreement to invest $160 million to build 11 biomass power stations in China, starting mid 2006. Pulse has also secured fuel supply contracts that will facilitate at least 30 more power stations, at an investment of $420 million, over the next three to five years. The project, which uses CSIRO technology, utilises sugar cane biomass to efficiently produce power. Pulse views the project as a platform for future growth in the region and is actively seeking new projects worldwide. Pulse is currently working on projects in Cuba, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Pacific and China.
Biofuels in Western Australia
Two new biodiesel plants, an ethanol plant and a multi-million dollar contract for a Western Australian engineering firm to fabricate a transportable biofuels plant have recently contributed to Western Australiaís emerging biofuels industry.
Gull Petroleum is to construct a biodiesel plant at its existing Kwinana facility. The plant, expected to be completed in November 2007, will produce 38 million litres of biodiesel per annum, and will be sold as B20 blended product at Gull service stations. In addition to the new plant, Gull recently became the first fuel retailer in Western Australia to offer biodiesel at the bowser.
Australian
Renewable Fuelsí 44 million litre per annum biodiesel plant at Picton, WA is
also nearing completion. BP
recently announced that it will join forces with Primary Energy Pty Ltd to
establish Australiaís first wheat-based ethanol plant at Kwinana. The $100
million project will result in the production of 80 million litres of ethanol a
year which is enough to potentially blend as 10 percent ethanol in all the
petrol used by WA motorists each year.
Western Australian engineering firm, AGC, recently won an $11 million contract
to fabricate a mobile biofuels plant for Natural Fuel Australiaís biodiesel
facility in Darwin. The plant, which should be completed by September this
year, will produce approximately 105,000 tonnes of biodiesel per annum.
Enecon Enters into Licence Agreement with Dynamotive for Bio-Oil
Bioenergy Australia member, Enecon, has entered into a licence agreement with the Canadian Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation, forming a company Enecon Pyrolysis Pty Ltd (EPPL) to commercialise bio-oil production and use in Australia. Enecon Pyrolysis Pty Ltd has been established to take on a dedicated role in the commercialisation of biomass pyrolysis in Australia. EPPL will market Dynamotiveís technology and develop and operate facilities in Australia. Dynamotive will receive a fee for the master license, and license fees for each plant developed, as well as output royalties. See http://www.dynamotive.com.
For further information contact Colin Stucley, Tel (03) 9817 6255.
Biofacts
… According to US Agriculture Department projections, the amount of United Statesí corn used for ethanol, estimated at 2.15 billion bushels this year, will amount to approximately 20 percent of the nation's entire crop.
… Biomethane powers more than 8,000 transit buses, garbage trucks, and 10 different models of passenger cars in Sweden. Sweden has more than 25 biomethane production facilities and 65 biomethane filling stations.
… In the EU, biodiesel production increased from 1.9 Mt in 2002 to 3.8 Mt in 2005. Production capacity is expected to continue to increase to 4.5 Mt in 2006 and 5.3 Mt in 2007.
… Life Cycle Analyses (LCAs) that have been carried out for biodiesel indicate that its use in road transport can achieve a considerable reduction in CO2 emissions. Most scenarios predict a reduction of 3.24 kg CO2/litre of biodiesel.
Biomass on the Internet
The Internet provides a valuable source of information on biomass and allied topics. Below are some Internet addresses to supplement the 1,300 odd addresses given in the previous 26 issues of the Bioenergy Australia newsletters. These lists are consolidated as electronic links on Bioenergy Australiaís web page at http://www.bioenergyaustralia.org. Recently these links have been converted into an Excel file to allow interested persons to download the file and work with it off-line.
Biodiesel Magazine (BBI International Media)
http://www.BiodieselMagazine.com
EU Bio-based economy
Bioenergy lists
Biofuels for Transportation: Selected Trends and Facts, World Watch Institute
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/4081
Ethanol Technologies Ltd (Russell Reeves)
Sustainable Palm Oil program
http://www.sustainable-palmoil.org/
BioPact (Pact between EU and African countries on bioenergy)
Bioenergy Atlas
http://www.brs.gov.au/bioenergy_atlas
Oregon Department of Energy, ìBiomass Energy: Cost of Productionî
http://www.energy.state.or.us/biomass/Cost.htm
Environmental Network (UNSW)
Heuristic Engineering
http://www.heuristicengineering.com/
Fischer Tropsch Synthetic Fuels
http://www.fischer-tropsch.org/
The Use of Biomass for Power Generation in the U.S. (Report)
http://www.researchreportsintl.com/products/product.cfm?report_ID=89
Bio-Mass to Bio-Gas
http://www.clean-air.org/Ed%20Burton%20Story/wood_chips_to_bio.htm
Construction of a Simplified Wood Gas
http://www.gengas.nu/byggbes/index.shtml
Southern Cross Agricultural Developments (AD and gasification project in China)
Biomass Development (Florida, USA)
Dyadic International (biotech for ethanol production)
ECN Tar Dewpoint site
http://www.thersites.nl/completemodel.aspx
JF Waste Energy Systems
http://www.jfwasteenergysystems.com
Syntec Biofuel
Koolfuel (John Strawson: presenter at 2003 conference)
Bocchino Technologies (Biogas)
Chiptec Wood Energy Systems
European Waste Gasification presentation
http://www.gasification.org/Docs/2002_Papers/GTC02020.pdf
Mother Earth News Gasifier
http://www.velocity.net/~jeff0124
Ethanol Boost
GreenFuel Technologies Corporation
http://www.greenfuelonline.com
CNIM (waste to energy plants in Europe)
Enzyclopedia for Life Systems (UNESCO)
Ethanol Producer Magazine
http://www.ethanolproducer.com
Energy Power Resources (UK bioenergy company)
http://www.eprl.co.uk/index.html
US Bioenergy
GreatPoint Energy (Methanol)
http://www.greatpointenergy.com/
Is Ethanol Sustainable?
http://www.green-trust.org/2005/07/is-ethanol-sustainable.html
Biomass gasifier power motor car
http://freeweb.deltha.hu/zastava.in.hu/wood-gas.htm
Australian Environmental Industry Directory
Dimethyl Ether (liquid biofuel)
GasNet Newsletter
Mission Biofuels
http://www.missionbiofuels.com.au
Biodiesel motorbikes
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_bikes.html
Bioenergy Stoves list
Low-cost Wood-gas stove
http://e-woodgasstove.blogspot.com/
Renewable Energy Source
http://renewable-energy-source.info/biofuel.htm
Alpha Type Stirling Engine
http://mitglied.lycos.de/PeterFette/english.htm
Biomass Initiative website and newsletter (US)
http://www.biomass.govtools.us
Biomass co-firing at a pulverized coal power plant in Florida
http://www.treepower.org/cofiring/LakelandElectricCofiring.pdf
Biomass co-firing at an IGCC plant
http://www.treepower.org/TECO/polk-cofiring-testburn.pdf
Wood Pellet Energy
http://www.coedcymru.org.uk/woodpelletenergy.html
Advanced Biorefinery Inc.
http://www.advancedbiorefinery.ca
Biofuels Initiative
Power Energy Fuels
Power Technology
http://www.power-technology.com
Pure Vision Technology
http://www.PureVisionTechnology.com
ThermalNet (Europe)
Biomass Initiative website (US)
http://www.biomass.govtools.us
Organic Resource Technology Ltd (DiCom)
http://www.bioconversion.com.au/
Algae for transportation fuel
http://changethis.com/9.biodiesel
Renewable Energy Development Initiative
http://www.fims.com.au/sb/bulletins/REDI_July_Web.htm
Pellet screw press
Adsorption Refrigeration
http://www.dyrefrigeration.com
Biodiesel and your vehicle
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_vehicle.html
International Developments
Crisis Distillation of Wine to Ethanol in Europe
After approval from the European Commissionís Wine Management Committee, France, Italy, Greece and Spain have been given permission to convert 6.4 million hectalitres of wine into industrial alcohol or biofuel. The conversion plans are in response to Europeís growing ëwine lakeí, as Europeans are drinking more wine from non-European countries, such as Chile and Australia.
The Wine Management Committee has agreed to pay Ä1.914 ($3.22) per % vol per hl for table wine and Ä3.00 ($5.04) per % vol per hl for quality wine. The raw alcohol resulting from the distillation can only be used for industrial purposes or as biofuel in order not to disturb the market for potable alcohol. The total distillation process will cost the EC up to Ä153.2 ($257.5) million.
Lancashire Waste Partnership Announced with Australian Company
GRD Limited, an Australian engineering and development company, has announced that its subsidiary, Global Renewables, has moved towards financial closure of £340 ($837.3) million of direct capital investment and a total contract value of over £2 ($5) billion between itself and the Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Council. The contract specifies that Global Renewables will design, install and operate an integrated network of waste management facilities for sorting, recycling, mechanical and biological treatment, and composting of household waste. The network will be for 765,000 tonnes capacity (600,000 tonnes per year processing capacity). This contract represents one of the largest and most significant public finance initiatives (PFI) contracts to be awarded in the United Kingdom. Global Renewables has been behind a plant using similar technology at Eastern Creek, on Sydneyís western outskirts.
A European Road Map for Biofuels
Seven European institutes, cooperating in a project named ëREFUELí have developed an integral strategy for biofuels in Europe until 2030. The project, which has a duration of two years, is financed by the European Commission's Intelligent Energy Europe program and is managed by ECN Policy Studies. The project consortium consists of the ECN Energy Research Institute (The Netherlands), the Copernicus Institute (The Netherlands), International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (Austria), Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), COWI (Denmark), Instytut Energetyki Odnawialnej (Poland) and Joanneum Research (Austria).
The developing biofuels market is currently experiencing a boom, however longer-term uncertainties remain. The uncertainties include: what can be expected from the current generation of biofuels? When and under what conditions will the second generation of biofuels make its breakthrough? Further, which policy measures can be applied to start the desired developments, what are their consequences and what is the desired time frame? Refuel hopes to provide a plan for these questions by focusing on:
- The biomass potential in the EU, given the developments in agricultural productivity and developments in other land-consuming sectors such as food production, forestry and environment conservation.
- The cost developments in various biofuel chains and the biofuel mix with the lowest cost, given a significant but achievable long-term target level for biofuels.
- The impact of the implementation of these fuels on the net emission of greenhouse gases, the European energy supply security, shifts in overall energy management, effects on the costs of feedstock, socio-economic effects and other environmental effects.
- The conditions under which market parties will develop the desired fuel chains, possible implementation barriers and solutions.
- An accompanying trajectory of European and national policy to support these developments.
The biofuels roadmap focuses on the variety of complementary techno-economic market models that will be applied that will generate the following, more detailed direct outcomes:
- A spatially detailed REFUEL land resources database for EU25+ (EU25 plus Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ukraine, Norway and Switzerland)
- A detailed long-term assessment of technical and economic biomass production potentials for the EU25+, incorporating economic factors, land-use, energy and agricultural policy in a coherent manner
- An analysis of key drivers and barriers for developing and exploiting biomass production potentials for biofuels
- An assessment of the impact of the biofuels target on biomass production schemes
- Costs and potentials for conventional and advanced biofuels and the required market structure and supply chain
- A socio-economic cost-benefit analysis for biofuels and a corresponding methodology
- A review of current EU25 biofuels policies, their drivers and effectiveness
- Dissemination, closely focused on relevant policy makers and market actors, and differentiated for various target audiences. For example: a website and REFUEL project folders.
Similar to the VIEWLS (http://www.viewls.org/) project, which is the predecessor of the REFUEL project, the consortium wishes to exchange information with market parties and other stakeholders. For this purpose, http://www.refuel.eu/ has been launched, where parties can register and provide feedback on used methods and data and on concept results of the project. Source: GAVEmail newsletter
Biofuels for Transportation Report
A new report, Biofuels for Transportation: Global Potential and Implications for Sustainable Agriculture and Energy in the 21st Century, sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) and prepared by the World Watch Institute (http://www.worldwatch.org) provides a comprehensive assessment of the opportunities and risks associated with the large-scale international development of biofuels.
Figures cited in the report reveal that biofuels could provide 37 percent of U.S. transport fuel within the next 25 years, and up to 75 percent if automobile fuel economy doubles. Biofuels could replace 20–30 percent of the oil used in European Union countries during the same time frame. The report includes information from existing country studies on biofuel use in Brazil, China, Germany, India, and Tanzania. The 37 page extended summary of the report is at:
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/4078
Biodiesel from Algae
Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation, based in Marlborough, New Zealand, has produced its first sample of biodiesel fuel using algae sourced from sewerage ponds. In what is believed to be the first such biodiesel sample in the world, the breakthrough came after Aquaflow conducted a pilot project to extract algae from its excess pond discharge.
By using the waste product, Aquaflow process can create biodiesel and remove a problem for sewage treatment bodies. While the technology has not been made public, the process involves processing the algae pulp before extracting lipid oil, which is then turned into biodiesel.
When blended with conventional mineral diesel, the biodiesel can run vehicles without the need for vehicle modifications. The biodiesel should also help meet the New Zealand governmentís 5 percent blended fuels target by 2008, moving to a 20 percent as biofuel production increases.
Aquaflowís next step is to increase the production from its new technology and test the product in a range of diesel engines. It has applied for funding for further R&D from the NZ Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.
For further information contact Barrie Leay, Email: barrie@actrix.co.nz of Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation Ltd.
Forthcoming Events
… International Workshop on Biomass Gasification Principle and Its Application, 1-20 August 2006. Yingkou, China Ministry of Science and Technology and Liaoning Institute of Energy Resources(LIER), Liaoning Province, Peoples Republic of China. http://www.repp.org/discussiongroups/resources/gasification/China/Workshop_2006.pdf
… UNSW Centre for Energy and Environmental Markets is presenting three 1-day short courses on Emissions Trading and the Clean Development Mechanism, 14-16 August 2006, UNSW, Sydney. For more information please contact Dr Rob Passey on 02 9385 4061 or r.passey@unsw.edu.au.
… Tropical Crop Biotechnology Conference 2006: 16-19 August 2006, Cairns International Hotel, Cairns, Queensland. Web: http://www.tcbc2006.com.au.
… World Renewable Energy Congress, 19-26 August 2006. Florence, Italy.
Web: http://www.wrenuk.co.uk/downloads/WRECix1stcall.pdf.
… International Alternative Transport Energies Conference, 10-13 September 2006, Perth, Western Australia. Web: http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/STEPconference.
… Ethanol: Finance and Investment, 11-13 September 2006, New York, USA.
Web: http://www.infocastinc.com/ethanol.html.
… International Distillers Grain Conference and Trade Show, Educating and Empowering End Users, 12-14 September 2006, Minneapolis, USA.
Web: http://www.distillersgrainsconference.com.
… 2006 World Biofuels Symposium, 13-15 September 2006, Beijing, China.
Web: http://www.worldbiofuelssymposium.com.
… 44th Annual Australian New Zealand Solar Energy Society Conference, September 13-15 2006, Canberra, Australia.
Web: http://www.anzses.org/Conf-generic/Confnce/Solar06/conferenceindex.htm.
… "Biological Waste Management: From Local to Global" 5th International Conference ORBIT 2006, in Weimar, Germany. 15-17 September 2006. Call for papers and other details at http://www.orbit2006.de.
… Third International Conference on Biomass for Energy, September 18-20 2006, Kiev, Ukraine. Web: http://www.biomass.kiev.ua/conf2006.
… Renewable Power Project Finance: The Tutorial, 18-20 September 2006, San Diego, USA. Web: http://www.infocastinc.com.
… RecAsh 2nd International Seminar, from 26-28 September 2006, Karlstad, Sweden. Web: http://www.recash.info.
… 4th i-CIPEC Conference (International Conference on Combustion, Incineration/Pyrolysis and Emission Control), 26-29 September 2006, Kyoto, Japan. Web sites: http://icipec.com/index/html and http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/index-e.html.
… 26th Energy Conservation Exhibition 2006, 26-30 September 2006, Seoul, Korea.
Web: http://www.kemco.or.kr/energyexpo.
… Workshop on Sustainable Use, Supply and Production of Biomass in Africa, 4-6 October 2006, Nairobi, Kenya.
Web: http://www.iea.org/Textbase/work/workshopdetail.asp?WS_ID=253.
… Renewable Energy 2006, 9-13 October 2006, Makuhari Messe, Japan. Web: http://www.re2006.org.
… Asia Biofuels and Expo IV, 10-12 October 2006, Beijing, China. Tel: +01 605-323-0119 Web: http://www.asiabiofuels.com.
… Energy Perspectives 2006, Energy Supply Association conference, 10 October 2006, Canberra, Australia. Web: http://www.esaa.com.au/.
… Asia Biofuels Conference & Expo IV, 10-12 October 2006, Great Wall Sheraton Hotel, Beijing, China. Web: http://www.asiabiofuels.com.
… Biodiesel Finance and Investment, 11-13 October 2006, Millennium Hotel, Minneapolis, MN, USA, Web: http://www.infocastinc.com/biodiesel.html
… International Biennial Australian Forest Growers Conference, 22-25 October 2006, Launceston, Tasmania. Web: http://www.conferenceplus.com.au/afg/.
… ìClimate Change and Businessî, Second International Conference on JI Projects in Ukraine, 23-25 October 2006, Kiev, Ukraine.
Web: http://www.biomass.kiev.ua/conf2006.
… 1st European Bioplastics Conference 2006. 21-22 November 2006. Brussels, Belgium. Web: http://www.european-bioplastics.org.
… China Eco Expo, 28-30 November, Beijing, China. Web http://www.ecoexpo.com/.
… ëFuels of the Future 2006í, 4th International Conference on BioFuels, 27-28 November 2006, Berlin, Germany.
Web: http://www.bioenergie.de/BKK/2006/KdZ06_titel_engl.htm.
… ISAF XVI, International Symposium on Alcohol Fuels, 27-29 November 2006, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Web: http://www.isaf2006.org.
… Bioenergy Australia 2006 Conference, 6-7 December with conference tour on 8 December. Fremantle (Perth), Western Australia. Web sites: http://www.bioenergyaustralia.org and http://www.conferenceaction.com.au. Contacts: Dr Stephen Schuck, email: sschuck@bigpond.net.au and Emma Waygood, email: emma@conferenceaction.com.au.
… 3rd International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability, from 4-7 January 2007 at the University of Madras, Chennai, India.
Web: http://www.SustainabilityConference.com.
… European Pellets Conference, 28 February 2007, Wels, Austria.
Web: http://www.wsed.at/wsed/index.php?id=1662&L=1.
… Wood Energy Exhibition 2007, OrlÈans, France, 19-22 April 2007,
Web: http://www.boisenergie.com/.
… ëBiomass for Energy, Industry and Climate Protection: From Research to Market Deploymentí, 15th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition, 7-11 May 2007, Berlin, Germany. Web: www.conference-biomass.com.
… 10th International Congress on Biotechnology in the Pulp and Paper Industry, 10-14 June 2007. Madison Wisconsin, USA. Web: http://www.bact.wisc.edu/ICBPPI_2007/
… Bioenergy 2007, 3-6 September 2007, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
Web: http://www.finbioenergy.fi.
Residues
… Dr Stephen Schuck, the Bioenergy Australia Manager gave a presentation on bioenergy and opportunities for the forestry industry to the University of Sydneyís Warren Centreís Manufacturing Committee on 19 July.
… Steve Schuck has provided a paper, and will be giving a presentation at the Australian Forest Growers biennial conference to be held in Tasmania, 22-25 October 2006. The presentation will cover bioenergy and opportunities for the forest industry.
… Steve Schuck attended the World Bioenergy Conference, held in J–nk–ping, Sweden, 20 May – 1 June. This conference was held in conjunction with the World Pellets Conference. Feedback on these events was provided at the 29 June Bioenergy Australia quarterly meeting. The Proceedings from both these World Conferences are available to members of Bioenergy Australia in electronic form.
… Steve Schuck was interviewed on the ABC TV Landline program on 19 Feb 2006. The ABC showed an 11 minute video on biogas production and use as a transport fuel, and use of other biofuels in Sweden, that was acquired from the BBC. The interview with the Bioenergy Australia Manager related to how such technologies could be deployed in Australia. A supporting article is on the ABC web site at: http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2006/s1570537.htm.
… Steve Schuck has been nominated to be on the World Renewable Energy Congressí Bioenergy Steering Committee. The conference will be held 19-25 August 2006 in Florence, Italy. See Forthcoming Events above.
… Bioenergy Australia has made a submission to the Senateís Regional and Rural Affairs and Transport Committee, which has been investigating Australiaís Future Oil Supply and Alternative Transport Fuels. On 9 June the Bioenergy Australia Manager, Dr Stephen Schuck gave evidence to the Committee. This was in the form of re-inforcing the submission via a presentation and then answering questions. The Hansard from the evidence is on the Senate Web site.
… Steve Schuck is representing Bioenergy Australia on the REEEP (Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program) Oceaniaís Interim Steering Committee. See http://www.reeep.org.
… Bioenergy Australia has been invited to participate on the APEC Biofuels Task Force working groups. See article above. Dr Les Edye, Dr Phil Hobson, both of Sugar Innovation and Research at QUT, and Dr Stephen Schuck have indicated they wish to be involved in the activities of the Task Force.
… The Australian Governmentís Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fundís policy framework is at: http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/demonstrationfund/framework.html. LETDF supports the commercial demonstration of technologies that have the potential to deliver large-scale greenhouse gas emission reductions from energy use, and is designed to leverage $1 billion in additional private sector investment.
… The State of Victoria is moving to mandate for 10 percent of the state's power to come from renewable sources by 2016. See Our Environment, Our Future action statement at: http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/ourenvironment-ourfuture/.
… Bimonthly issues of the Australian Emission Trading Forum Review are available for downloading. See http://aetf.emcc.net.au/HTML/aetf_review.html.
… Brisbane based ethanol company, Global Ethanol Holdings has lodged a prospectus for an ASX float expected to occur on 21 August. The IPO is seeking $467.3 million from institutional and professional investors. This will bring its market capitalisation to between $890 and $1 billion. The company forecasts net profits of $31.6 million for 2006-07 on total revenues of $332 million. Global Ethanol is active in the USA and announced in May plans to build a $214 million ethanol plant in Iowa. The company owns the Lakota and Riga ethanol plants in the USA.
… Axiom Energy is set to re-issue its prospectus for Victoriaís largest biodiesel plant to be located at Geelong, Victoria. An earlier prospectus which involved both a biodiesel plant and a fuels-from-waste-plastic business was withdrawn in August, following lodgement with ASIC, due to issues with excise on the latter mentioned fuel. See http://www.axiomenergyltd.com.au.
… It is the International Energy Agency's practice to offer free PDF downloads of IEA publications two calendar years after issue. A new batch has just been added to the free publications list. See http://www.iea.org/Textbase/publications/free_all.asp.
… The Ausclad group of companies has built a transportable $11 million biodiesel plant at the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) at Henderson, WA, for the Natural Fuels Australia Limitedís $48million biodiesel facility being established in Darwin. It has been fabricated and assembled as a standalone module and will be transported to the East Arm site in Darwin.
… Global Renewables Development (GRD) announced that production at its Eastern Creek, NSW UR-3R Facility recommenced on 17 July 2006, following a fire in the composting hall in May.
… Progress towards commercialising waste gasification: A Worldwide Status Report, is available from http://www.gasification.org/Docs/2003_Papers/22SCHW.pdf.
… A discussion paper commissioned by the National Farmers Federation (NFF) in Australia, Emissions Trading and the Land, states that farmers should push to have trees on their properties in carbon trading schemes. The paper looks at the potential commercial opportunities that may be gained from such a system. The full report can be seen at http://www.nff.org.au.
… The Western Australia Agriculture and Food Minister, Mr Kim Chance has opened the BlueDiesel pilot plant in Welshpool in Perth. The plant uses locally developed technology and is aimed at production in regional and remote communities. It uses modular components and is claimed to have a throughput in excess of double that of a conventional biodiesel plant.
… Malaysia, the world's top producer of palm oil, plans to sell biodiesel at domestic pumps and also export it by October. It is expected to produce 120,000 tonnes of biodiesel in 2006 and 500,000 tonnes in 2007.
… The European Environment Agency has released a report on biomass, entitled How Much Biomass Can Europe Use Without Harming the Environment. The report is available from http://reports.eea.eu.int/briefing_2005_2/en/briefing_2_2005.pdf.
… Outreach Support for Biomass Project Development in Florida: Value Added Metrics, is available from http://www.treepower.org/papers/SERBEPFinalReport2005.doc.
… The Climate Institute has issued a report, Top Ten Tipping Points on Climate Change, which outlines global changes in climate change perception. The report states that Australia is lagging behind the rest of the world in such perception. The report is available from http://www.climateinstitute.org.au/cia/downloads/Tipping_Pts_Introduction.pdf.
… The first car rental company to rent out biofuel cars has opened in Los Angeles. The cars can drive between 600 and 1200 kilometers on a full tank of pure plant oil (PPO). More information on the Bio Beetle Rental Cars is available from http://www.bio-beetle.com/.
… The Biofuels Research Advisory Council (BIOFRAC), a high-level group on biofuels established by the European Commission, has released its draft vision report, Biofuels in the European Union: A Vision for 2030 and Beyond. The report outlines the current situation of biofuels and presents a long-term view on how to overcome the technical and non-technical barriers for biofuel deployment in the EU and worldwide. The report is available from http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/pdf/biofuels_vision_2030_en.pdf.
… A report by Farrell, A.E., Plevin, R.J., Turner, B.T., Jones, A.D., O'Hare, M., & Kammen, D.M. (2006) entitled Ethanol Can Contribute to Energy and Environmental Goals, from Science, 311, pp506-508 is available from the Web site: http://rael.berkeley.edu/ebamm/FarrellEthanolScience012706.pdf.
… At its AGM on 30 June, Dynamotive announced that it had undertaken significant project development, including advancing negotiations on master licenses, plant license sales, and commercial contracts for fuel sales, in 11 countries, including Australia, Canada (British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan), Ukraine, Latvia, Thailand, Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina and China.
… The Australian government has published its 2005 report, Tracking to the Kyoto Target, which shows ëwith measuresí its best estimate of meeting its Kyoto Target of 108% of 1990 emission levels by 2010. The report projects stationary energy emissions to rise to 146% from 195-285 Mt CO2-eq, and transport emissions to rise from 62 to 94 Mt CO2-eq or 153% of the 1990 level in 2010. The greatest contributor to Australia being able to meet its target in 2010 is due to Land Use Change that would result in the level being 34% of the 1990 figure. Total growth in emissions is projected to be 42 Mt CO2-eq from 1990 to 2010. Electricity contributes 70% of the stationary energy emissions. Further details are at http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/projections.
… Carmine Bocchino of Australian Biomass is now offering free modeling for estimating projections of landfill gas production from landfills. For more information, visit: http://www.bocchtech.com/biomass/freemodelling.html.
… Ahouissoussi N and Wetzstein M (2002), Life-Cycle Costs of Alternative Fuels: Is Biodiesel Cost Competitive for Urban Buses?, US National Biodiesel Board, is available from http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/reportsdatabase/reports/tra/tra-049.pdf.
… Novozymes, a Danish biotech company, has announced plans to collaborate with the China Resources Alcohol Corporation (CRAC) in developing cellulose ethanol. Both parties have signed a three-year development agreement, and as an extension of this agreement, the CRAC plans to build a pilot plant for cellulose ethanol in Zhaodong, China.
… National Tree Day is 30 July 2006.
… Research Reports International has released the first edition of The Use of Biomass for Power Generation in the US. The report is a 90-page overview of the renewed US market interest in biomass-fueled power generation. The report provides a concise look at what is driving interest in biomass-fueled generation, the challenges faced in implementing such generation, and the current and future state of biomass-fueled generation. The full report is available from http://www.researchreportsintl.com/products/product.cfm?report_ID=89.
… The New Jersey-based NRG Energy Inc. formed a joint initiative with GreenFuel Technologies to test GreenFuelís algae bioreactor technology on NRGís coal-fueled power plant in Dunkirk, New York. Early tests suggest the process yields about 38,000 litres annually of bioethanol and a comparable amount of biodiesel per acre.
… Dyadic International reported at the Third Annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing in Toronto, Canada, that it has identified and tested highly effective enzyme mixtures for the efficient conversion of renewable cellulose biomass to ethanol. More information is available from http://www.dyadic.com.
… A report, Thermodynamics of the Corn-Ethanol Biofuel Cycle by Tad W. Patzek, is available from http://petroleum.berkeley.edu/papers/patzek/CRPS416-Patzek-Web.pdf.
… Friends of the Earth have produced a report, The Oil for Ape Scandal: How Palm Oil is threatening Orang-utan survival. The report is available from http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/oil_for_ape_full.pdf.
… Germany has joined the United States and 16 other countries in the Methane to Markets Partnership, an international climate-change initiative to recover and use methane as a clean energy source. The program was launched in November 2004 as a public-private effort to encourage methane recovery projects in agriculture, coalmines, landfills and oil and gas systems. The United States will commit up to US$53 ($70.7) million over five years to the initiative. Australia is a participant in this program. More information is available from http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets/.
… A report on biofuels production in the European Union is at: http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/observ-er/stat_baro/observ/baro173b.pdf
… BIOMASS: Green Energy for Europe, a highly commended 46-page report on biomass in Europe is available from http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/pdf/biomass_en.pdf.
… On 27 June, the US Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee funded the Bioenergy Program (Sec. 931(c)) at its full authorisation of US$213 ($284) million for FY07. This is a US$63 ($84) million increase over the Presidentís request and the House appropriation level, and represents a US$123 ($164) million increase over the FY06 funding.
… The EU Parliament has assigned two-thirds of the next seven yearsí energy research funding to renewables and energy efficiency. An amendment to the 7th Framework Programme as proposed by the European Council will ensure that Ä1.6 ($2.69) billion out of the Ä2.4 ($4) billion energy R&D funding goes to clean energies and minimizing energy use.
… The first comprehensive US analysis of the life cycles of soybean biodiesel and corn grain ethanol shows biodiesel performs better than corn ethanol. The study, conducted by the University of Minnesota, suggests soybean biodiesel has much less of an impact on the environment and a much higher net energy benefit than does corn ethanol. However, neither can do much to meet US energy demand. The study is detailed in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences website and is available at: http://www.nasonline.org/.
… Goldman Sachs, an American investment company, has announced it would invest C$30 ($35.3) million in Iogen, a Canadian company that produces cellulose ethanol. Iogen runs the only plant in Ottawa to manufacture cellulose ethanol, though currently this is only a demonstration project.
… The Australian Labor Party (ALP) announced that it would commit to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 60 percent by 2050, should it win government at the 2007 election. The Climate Change Blueprint outlines the establishment of a national emissions trading system and increasing the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target to above 5 percent. The ALP has rejected nuclear power as economically inappropriate for Australia. The Blueprint can be downloaded from http://www.labor.com.au/download/now/climate_change_blueprint_no_6.pdf.
… The discussion paper, Impediments to the Uptake of Renewable and Distributed Energy, from the Federal Governmentís Ministerial Council on Energy is available for download from http://www.mce.gov.au/assets/documents/mceinternet/DiscussionPaperImpedimentstoUptakeRDG20060222140112%2Epdf.
… The British energy department has approved an energy-from-waste power station in southeast London. Riverside Resource Recovery will proceed with its 72 MW EfW facility at Belvedere, following two public inquiries that examined the application in 2003 and 2005. The station will be fueled by waste that would otherwise have to go to landfill.
… Andrew Lang of SMARTimber had an article published in the 2 July 2006 edition of The Age. The article was entitled Seeing the wood from the trees, and advocates use of forestry wastes for renewable energy. The article is available from: http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/seeing-the-wood-waste-from-the-trees/2006/07/02/1151778811377.html.
… Genesis and Development of the Pilot Plant Project, an analysis of a development of Australian ethanol from ligocellulosics is available from: http://www.ethtec.com.au/images/genesisanddevelopmentofthepilotplantproject.pdf.
… The Offer Information Statement from Australian Ethanol, which relates to producing ethanol from bagasse and cellulosic biomass, is available from http://www.ethtec.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=28.
… The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded US$4.2 ($5.6) million to 18 small enterprises that will use the grants to develop innovative products and renewable energy from woody biomass from national forests. While many of the recipients are forest products company, grants were made to:
… The Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development Council, which is planning a project to co-fire biomass with coal in the Gadsden Steam Plant in Alabama
… Big Valley Power, a biomass power plant in Redding, California
… The Montana Community Development Corporation, which has been experimenting with using wood waste from logging operation to fuel a boiler at a paper mill
… Nevadaís Lake Tahoe Unified School District, which plans to fuel a cogeneration system with biomass fuel
… Mount Taylor Machine, a New Mexico company that makes fuel for pellet stoves
… The town of Red River, New Mexico, which plans to ship wood chips from forest thinning to a biomass power plant.
According to the USDA the grant program improves forest health, and reduces the risk of fires, by removing built-up fuel hazards.
… Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California, released an Executive Order (S-06-06), setting targets to increase the production and use of bioenergy, including ethanol and biodiesel fuels made from renewable resources. The Order requires that the state produces a minimum 20% of its biofuels within California by 2010, 40% by 2020, and 75% by 2050, and that in electricity generation, the state meet a 20% target within the currently established state goals for renewable generation for 2010 and 2020. The full text of the order is available from http://gov.ca.gov/index.php/executive-order/183/.
… The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released Renewables in Global Energy Supply. The fact sheet provides data that show of the 13.3% of energy from renewable sources, combustible and waste provide 10.6% and hydro is 2.2% TPES. Renewables are the third largest contributor to global electricity production and accounted for 18% of production in 2003, after coal (40%) and natural gas (19%); the energy output from combustible renewables was 6%. The IEAís latest World Energy Outlook states that the supply of renewables will increase by 1.8% per annum from 1,400 Mtoe (million tonnes oil equivalent) in 2003 to 2,300 Mtoe in 2030, an increase of more than 60%. The fact sheet is available from