Tasmania: Advances In Bioenergy - RevolutioniseSPORT

Tasmania: Advances in BioenergyMartin MoroniA, Craig PlaistedBAPrivate Forests TasmaniaB Meander Valley Council, Tasmania

Outline Bioenergy in Tasmania now Tasmania’s biomass energy potential– Woody Residues– ABBA Project (Australian Biomass for Bioenergy project) Non woody residues Recent initiatives Westbury bioenergy hub Conclusions

Bioenergy in Tasmania now 7 industrial heat users generate heat withwood processing residues. 93 t/year 3 industrial heat users generate heat fromfood processing residues 1 electrical generation facility using landfill gas 9 effluent anaerobic digesters produce biogasthat is burned to heat effluent digesters, 1CHP effluent digester 30% of homes use wood for space heating

Woody bioenergy nowA 400 kt y-1 bone dry forest biomass are used forproducing energy in Tasmania 7.0 PJ or 6% of Tasmania’s primary energy supply– All thermal energy Predominantly space heating– 2/3 domestic firewood– 1/3 non domestic heating» predominantly kiln drying of processed timber» Remainder predominantly brick manufacturing, foodprocessing, and greenhouse heating– No facilities for producing electricityARothe A, Moroni M, Neyland M, Wilnhammer M. (2015). Current and potential use of forest biomass for energy inTasmania: a comparison with Europe. Biomass and Bioenergy 80: 162-172.

Potential of woody biomass for energyA 1800 kt y-1 bone dry material 30 % of Tasmania’s current energy demand– 40% (700 kt y-1) from harvest and processing residues Almost double current use Half from plantations, half from native forest– 60% pulp-grade material typically chipped andexported Currently an important fraction is not used due to logisticaland/or economic restrictions ¾ from plantations ¼ from native forest– 20 kt y-1 of bone dry material placed into landfills orleft on siteARothe A, Moroni M, Neyland M, Wilnhammer M. (2015). Current and potential use of forest biomass for energy inTasmania: a comparison with Europe. Biomass and Bioenergy 80: 162-172.

Conservative estimate Data based on production for 9/10, 10/11 and11/12 years 20% reduction for public forests accountingfor Tasmanian Forest Agreement transfer offorest to reserve– No material from old growth included– No non-eucalypt species included– All bark, branches leaves left on site

Private forests harvest volumes 1994-95 to 2016-17(Including Fuelwood)4.54Tonnes (Millions)3.532.521.510.50Native ForestPlantation SoftwoodPlantation HardwoodTotal (all including fuel wood)

Tasmanian total energy consumption107.2 PJ 2014/15Natural e: Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Australian Energy Update 2016

Recent initiatives

Australian Biomass for BioenergyAssessment Project Potential residues for bioenergy production inTasmania per annumIndustry rocessingOrganic WasteTotalMgm39L38 50027 9005 796 000521 025 000331 9006 0001 300 0006 164 3096 0522 325 000

Example of manufacturing/processingABBA GroupResidue typeTotalacquacultureFish bone and gut39650 MgHusks and shells52 m3Whey245000 LDairyDead animalsFood Processing10400 MgChaff4580 MgFood waste150 MgHusks4870 MgSpent yeast552000 LFruitFruit pulp109 MgLiquid wasteWaste water5602000 MgMedicinalOther20020 MgSeeds/stones5000 MgNon cereal strawChaff4500 MgVegetablesFood waste101650 MgWinery ViticultureGrape marc3050 MgOtherDiatomaceous earth780000 L

Highlight’s here

Tasmanian GovernmentWood and Fiber Innovation Program Woody residues– 2 fuel conversion projects– 7 energy densification projects Potential wood use 169 tonnes / year– 1 prefeasibility study for a bioenergy hub atWestbury, northern Tasmania

Other initiatives with potential to usewoody residues *1 wood pellet export facility *2 sports complex heating projects 1 energy densification project Estimated max volume 506 kt/ year*projects supported by the Tasmanian government

Other initiatives Biodiesel displacing regular diesel electricalgeneration program for an isolated location Consultant conducting a Gap Analysis:obstacles for bioenergy take-up

Westbury Bioenergy Hub:Valley Central Industrial Estate

Valley Central 127 ha, buffered from residential areas Adjacent major highway and freight roads Close to:– three major Tasmanian ports– Launceston airport– a rail junction Onsite– Water, natural gas, electricity

Westbury Bioenergy Hub(pre-feasibility supported by State government) Potential:– Generate heat (steam and hot water) and electricity for upto 7 participating companies– Accept residues/wastes from up to 5 of these companiesas bioenergy feedstock Reduce costs of waste disposal / treatmentReduce load on government infrastructure/landfill/environmentDisplace fossil fuelsProvide power to the gridDevelop local expertise in bioenergyDevelop bioenergy supply chains and regional jobs/revenue– Circular economy, generate energy from own residuestreams

Westbury Bioenergy Hub Potential to accept– Wet and dry organic residues from Valley Centralbusinesses– municipal waste Divert landfill– Avoid transfer costs– Potential to receive a return for delivered landfill Effluent– Reduce pressure on State infrastructure and reduce costs– External agricultural/farming residues– External forestry residues Supported by ABBA dataset

Projected annual energy demand (GJcombined heat and power)

Potential feedstocks

Bioenergy could supply the energyneeds of participating companies. Total projected energy demand:– 651 000 GJ/year Total energy supply estimated from combustionof available residues using CHP– 1 352 000 GJ/year A CHP plant has the potential to exceedparticipating business power requirements– Input power into the grid Diminish need for infrastructure upgrade

Contact information Equipment vendors interested in offeringservices or exploring this option please registertheir interest with:– Craig Plaisted, Sustainable Developments, ProjectManager, Meander Valley Council. Craig.plaisted@mvc.tas.gov.au (03) 6393 5324; 0457 412 610

Conclusion Tasmanians have used bioenergy for centuries andmillennia to heat food and spaces Industrial bioenergy has been used for centuries– historically primarily to dry wood and bricks– More recently to heat greenhouses and industrial processes The State government is supporting a range of newinitiatives Data on potential feedstocks has been collected mostpotential feedstocks for bioenergy, including their type andlocation Opportunity to displace fossil fuels with renewables There is potential for a bioenergy hub in northern Tasmaniathat would be exemplar for Australia.

Conclusions Biomass energy could make an importantcontribution to Tasmania’s energy strategy:– Provide energy at a competitive price– Provide energy choice– Maximise Tasmania’s renewable energyopportunities– Utilise energy to facilitate state growth– Ensuring efficient energy sector that is customerfocused

Current and potential use of forest biomass for energy in Tasmania: a comparison with Europe. Biomass and Bioenergy 80: 162-172. Potential of woody biomass for energyA 1800 kt y-1 bone dry material 30 % of Tasmania's current energy demand -40% (700 kt y-1) from harvest and processing residues