Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

Research Compendium 1993 - 1994

Research Project

BIOMASS AS AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE

Objectives

To analyse and define the potential for plant biomass in the energy cycle by:

• overviewing energy demand and supply markets, and identifying likely components for supply opportunities from plant biomass-based resources (with scenarios for present markets and projections to 2010);
• studying the availability of plant biomass resources for energy in the context of supply/demand scenarios for other energy resources;
• identifying current and prospective technologies already under development, that could deliver plant biomass-based energy; and
• developing a strategic plan to identify a specific course of action to maximise benefits in each opportunity area and to remove barriers or restrictions where possible in others.

Background

International debate on the greenhouse effect, ecologically sustainable development and more efficient resource utilisation have resulted in a renewed interest in reviewing the potential of biomass based resources and technologies.

Research

Studies were made of:

• biomass resources including field crops, crop and forest wastes, and waste matter (municipal solid wastes, animal wastes and by-products of food processing);
• energy market factors;
• environmental considerations including: greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change; deforestation and land degradation; poor land use; loss of biodiversity;
• technologies of two major types-thermal/chemical and biochemical-for converting biomass to energy;
• a model for assessing the cost of converting biomass to energy; and
• the demands for energy from now to 2004-05, based on 1993 forecasts from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Research Economics.

Outcome

After evaluating the complete range of resource and technology options, two promising systems were chosen for further analysis. These were electricity generation by direct combustion, gasification and anaerobic digestion; and ethanol production from lignocellulose, food processing wastes and waste paper.

Implications

The report proposes various projects to develop and promote the biomass-based energy industry in Australia, based on the most promising systems. Recommendations for further technical assessments include compiling inventories of biomass sources; analysing waste disposal costs; studying technologies for producing electricity and ethanol from biomass; analysing price and demand for by-products; and studying the social, economic and environmental benefits and impacts of biomass-derived energy.

Further recommendations are made for marketing and promotion, industry development (forming a Biomass-based Energy Industry Association (BEIA) government support and budget requirements and funding options for the BEIA.

RIRDC Project No: ERD-1A

RESEARCHERS: Ron Mendelsohn & Kim Sweeny

PHONE: 06 274 4800 (ERDC)

Last updated: 10 October 1996
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Index of RIRDC Projects URL
http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/compendium/93-94/index-b.html