Tag Archives: chat
Open Day On Woody Biomass Hosted At AFBI Hillsborough
Published on 01/09/2013 14:09 The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), in partnership with the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural enterprise (CAFRE), is holding a Woody Biomass “Field to Furnace” open day on Tuesday 17th September 2013, at AFBI Hillsborough. The open day will commence at 11.00am. During the day there will be opportunities to hear short presentations on the latest DARD funded research at AFBI, and to view a range of technologies relating to the growing, drying and burning of woody biomass crops. In addition, AFBI and CAFRE staff will be available throughout the day to discuss all aspects of the ongoing research programmes. Topics which will be addressed on the day include: Biomass Production Linda Walsh (AFBI) will discuss issues related to growing short rotation coppice willow biomass for energy production. This presentation will include information on planting techniques and management requirements to ensure the successful establishment of a willow crop, ‘best practice’ in terms of genetic selection, and the importance of local genetic testing. Bioremediation Dr Alistair McCracken (AFBI) will give an overview of DARD funded research at AFBI into the multifunctional use of short rotation coppice willow plantations. This will focus on their use for the treatment of waste waters of agricultural and commercial origin. Willows are fast growing, have a high evapo-transpiration rate (they ‘take up’ a lot of water) and utilise nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. This ‘bioremediation’ technology is beginning to be utilised by the commercial sector. Post Production & Processing Chris Johnston (AFBI) will outline aspects of post production processing, specifically harvesting options and requirements for onward biomass processing. The biomass drying process, together with the research carried out at AFBI Hillsborough into drying woody biomass crops, will be discussed. Information on drying methods, costs of drying and the final energy content of the willow chip will be presented. Biomass Utilisation Greg Forbes (AFBI) will discuss a number of energy conversion technologies currently available, and outline the findings of DARD funded research programmes carried out by AFBI which have examined ‘farm’ and ‘forest’ sourced biomass fuels. The physical, chemical and energetic properties of these fuels will be discussed, together with their potential energy output and gaseous emissions during their burning. Carbon & GHG Savings Dr Rodrigo Olave will give an overview of greenhouse gas emissions from the AFBI Hillsborough site, and will discuss the impact of adopting a renewable energy scheme on total emissions during the last few years. Rodrigo will also outline the benefits of decreased oil use, energy costs, CO2 emissions and energy efficiency with a specific focus on the function of biomass fuels. Information on DARD funded research at AFBI into ‘carbon pools’ and ‘carbon sequestration’ will also be presented. Marketing (and RHI, ROCs) Nigel Moore (CAFRE) will discuss the practical implications of using biomass for heating. This will include information on best practice for installation, fuelling, running and maintaining biomass heat systems, as well as issues to be considered in relation to biomass procurement systems and fuel contracts. Continue reading
UK Government Sets Biomass Power Rules
Electricity from biomass is expected to save 70% of greenhouse gas emissions 22/08/2013 UK government sets biomass power rules Financial support only available if sustainable Helen Tunnicliffe THE UK government has set new sustainability criteria for biomass to ensure that it contributes effectively to the country’s emissions reduction targets. Electricity from biomass is expected to save 70% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels, but concerns have been raised that some of the wood chips and pellets used in biomass power stations is no better than coal and in some cases worse if it has been harvested in an unsustainable way, from a badly-managed plantation or shipped from thousands of miles away. The new standards announced by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) are designed to address these concerns and apply to all companies generating 1 MW or more of energy from solid biomass or biogas which are claiming financial support under the Renewables Obligation (RO). The RO means that all generating companies must source a set proportion of their electricity from renewable energy, but receive a premium for doing so. From April 2015 onwards, electricity generating companies could face losing these financial incentives if they cannot prove that the biomass fuel for their plants meets the tough new standards. The sustainability criteria look at the way the source forest is managed, including ensuring that harvesting rates are sustainable, that biodiversity is protected and that indigenous populations retain their land use rights. DECC has also pledged not to make any more changes to the sustainability criteria before April 2027. Greg Barker, the minister of state for energy and climate change says that biomass is an important part of the UK’s energy mix. “The new criteria will provide the necessary investor certainty and, crucially, ensure that the biomass is delivered in a transparent and sustainable way,” he adds. The news has been welcomed by the Renewable Energy Authority (REA), which represents UK companies in the renewable energy industry. “These sustainability criteria ensure that the UK can reap the benefits of biomass, safe in the knowledge that it is making a real dent in our carbon emissions and that ecologically sensitive land is being protected. Biomass is a great way to bridge the looming capacity gap because it has all the same benefits as fossil fuels, such as reliability and flexibility of supply, but without the carbon impacts,” says REA CEO Nina Skorupska. The REA, however, warned that all biomass generation must be supported by the government. Earlier this month, RWE closed its Tilbury power station in the UK, which it had been converting from coal to biomass, when the government withdrew subsidies under the Contracts for Difference scheme which invests in low carbon technologies. Only combined heat and power (CHP) projects are now eligible for subsidies under this scheme, but REA points out that many otherwise suitable sites have no users for the heat generated. Continue reading
New Forests Pty Limited : New Forests and Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation Agree to Collaboration on Bioenergy and Biofuel Developments
New Forests and Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation Agree to Collaboration on Bioenergy and Biofuel Developments Projects to be linked to New Forests forestry investments in regional Australia New Forests and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (“CEFC”) today announced that they have jointly executed a collaboration agreement to finance new bioenergy and biofuel developments. The new investments could include combined heat and power projects or renewable fuels projects featuring biodiesel or syngas associated with forestry investments in regional Australia. New Forests has invested in extensive forestry plantations in Australia, and the agreement may support establishment of new domestic markets for hardwood and softwood timber as well as traditional forestry and sawmill waste products. Under the collaboration agreement, New Forests will seek to develop commercially-oriented investment opportunities in renewable energy that complement regional forest sectors. New Forests’ Managing Director, David Brand, said, “This is an opportunity to diversify Australian markets for timber, turn waste material into energy, and create new jobs and investment in rural Australia. We see biomass based energy and liquid fuels as an area of substantial potential for growth, and an opportunity that could rival the size of traditional timber markets in the next ten or twenty years.” CEFC CEO, Oliver Yates, said “This is an excellent demonstration of how the CEFC can work with the forestry industry to enable bioenergy projects that will fulfil the potential for the industry to convert its waste products into a valuable renewable energy source. Investment in bioenergy can help reduce carbon emissions, lessen the reliance on traditional electricity and has the potential to boost productivity through reduced energy and operating costs.” Bioenergy presently provides 0.9 per cent of Australia’s electricity generation, but the Clean Energy Council estimates that this has the potential to increase six-fold by 2020 with the right support in place. “Linking Australia’s very significant forestry resources and skills and enhancing these through new clean energy technologies utilising cellulosic biomass will build a new industry of national value”, Mr Yates added. www.cleanenergyfinancecorp.com.au Page 1/2 New Forests’ investments already include 375,000 hectares of land and timber plantation assets in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia and Timberlink Australia, with two softwood sawmills located in Tasmania and South Australia. Many of these plantations were established under managed investment schemes and now need concerted effort to develop markets and infrastructure. “Market development is a key part of the work that needs to be done to reposition Australia’s plantation forestry sector for the future,” said Brand. “As an Australian business we seek to achieve excellent returns for investors, and innovation is a key part of that work.” The collaboration agreement is open to any projects brought forward by New Forests that meet the CEFC investment criteria. New Forests has identified a bioenergy plant in the Green Triangle alongside the Tarpeena sawmill as an immediate priority, as well as an assessment of the potential to use hardwood plantations for bioenergy and biofuel production at other locations. About CEFC The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has been established by the Australian Government to mobilise capital investment in renewable energy, low- emissions technology and energy efficiency in Australia. The CEFC’s flexible mandate and commercial approach provide an opportunity to achieve genuine market-based change by helping overcome the financial barriers that have previously prevented clean energy investment at scale. Learn more at www.cleanenergyfinancecorp.com.au About New Forests New Forests (www.newforests.com.au) manages investments in sustainable forestry and associated environmental markets for institutional and other qualified wholesale investors. New Forests executes three investment strategies that provide clients with diversity and choice around risk-adjusted returns, geography, and market exposure: sustainable timberland investment in Australia and New Zealand; forestry investment in high-growth markets of the Asia Pacific region; and conservation forestry and environmental markets investment in the United States. The company has offices in Sydney, Singapore, and San Francisco and currently manages AU$1.8 billion in funds and assets and over 415,000 hectares of land in Australia, the United States, and Asia. CEFC Media Line: New Forests media contact: Clean Energy Finance Corporation MaryKate Hanlon media@cleanenergyfinancecorp.com.au P: +61 02 9406 4105 Media line 0457 732 219 M: 0450 608 454 mhanlon@newforests.com.au www.cleanenergyfinancecorp.com.au Page 2/2 Continue reading
