Tasmania: Advances in Bioenergy

Martin MoroniA, Craig PlaistedB

A Private 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 with wood processing residues. 93 t/year

• 3 industrial heat users generate heat from food processing residues

• 1 electrical generation facility using landfill gas

• 9 effluent anaerobic digesters produce biogas that is burned to heat effluent digesters, 1 CHP effluent digester

• ~30% of homes use wood for space heating

Woody bioenergy nowA

• 400 kt y-1 bone dry forest biomass are used for producing 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, food processing, and greenhouse heating

– No facilities for producing electricity

A Rothe A, Moroni M, Neyland M, Wilnhammer M. (2015). 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• Almost double current use• Half from plantations, half from native forest

– 60% pulp-grade material typically chipped and exported• Currently an important fraction is not used due to logistical

and/or economic restrictions• ¾ from plantations ¼ from native forest

– 20 kt y-1 of bone dry material placed into landfills or left on site

A Rothe A, Moroni M, Neyland M, Wilnhammer M. (2015). Current and potential use of forest biomass for energy in Tasmania: a comparison with Europe. Biomass and Bioenergy 80: 162-172.

Conservative estimate

• Data based on production for 9/10, 10/11 and 11/12 years

• 20% reduction for public forests accounting for Tasmanian Forest Agreement transfer of forest to reserve

– No material from old growth included

– No non-eucalypt species included

– All bark, branches leaves left on site

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1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

Ton

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Private forests harvest volumes 1994-95 to 2016-17

Native Forest Plantation Hardwood

Plantation Softwood Total (all including fuel wood)

(Including Fuelwood)

Tasmanian total energy consumption 107.2 PJ 2014/15

Electricity41%

Coal9%

Wood6%

Liquid Fuels38%

Natural Gas6%

Source: Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Australian Energy Update 2016

Recent initiatives

Australian Biomass for Bioenergy Assessment Project

• Potential residues for bioenergy production in Tasmania per annumIndustry Sector Mg m3 L

Cropping 9 3

Horticulture 8 500

Livestock 27 900

Manufacturing/Processing

5 796 000 52 1 025 000

Organic Waste 331 900 6 000 1 300 000

Total 6 164 309 6 052 2 325 000

Example of manufacturing/processing

ABBA Group Residue type Total

acquaculture Fish bone and gut 39650 Mg

Husks and shells 52 m3

Dairy Whey 245000 L

Dead animals 10400 Mg

Food Processing Chaff 4580 Mg

Food waste 150 Mg

Husks 4870 Mg

Spent yeast 552000 L

Fruit Fruit pulp 109 Mg

Liquid waste Waste water 5602000 Mg

Medicinal Other 20020 Mg

Seeds/stones 5000 Mg

Non cereal straw Chaff 4500 Mg

Vegetables Food waste 101650 Mg

Winery Viticulture Grape marc 3050 Mg

Other Diatomaceous earth 780000 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 at Westbury, northern Tasmania

Other initiatives with potential to use woody 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 electrical generation 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 up

to 7 participating companies

– Accept residues/wastes from up to 5 of these companies as bioenergy feedstock• Reduce costs of waste disposal / treatment

• Reduce load on government infrastructure/landfill/environment

• Displace fossil fuels

• Provide power to the grid

• Develop local expertise in bioenergy

• Develop bioenergy supply chains and regional jobs/revenue

– Circular economy, generate energy from own residue streams

Westbury Bioenergy Hub

• Potential to accept– Wet and dry organic residues from Valley Central

businesses

– 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 (GJ combined heat and power)

Potential feedstocks

Bioenergy could supply the energy needs of participating companies.

• Total projected energy demand:– 651 000 GJ/year

• Total energy supply estimated from combustion of available residues using CHP– 1 352 000 GJ/year

• A CHP plant has the potential to exceed participating business power requirements– Input power into the grid

• Diminish need for infrastructure upgrade

• Equipment vendors interested in offering services or exploring this option please register their interest with:

– Craig Plaisted, Sustainable Developments, Project Manager, Meander Valley Council.

• Craig.plaisted@mvc.tas.gov.au

• (03) 6393 5324; 0457 412 610

Contact information

Conclusion

• Tasmanians have used bioenergy for centuries and millennia 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 new initiatives

• Data on potential feedstocks has been collected most potential feedstocks for bioenergy, including their type and location

• Opportunity to displace fossil fuels with renewables• There is potential for a bioenergy hub in northern Tasmania

that would be exemplar for Australia.

Conclusions

• Biomass energy could make an important contribution to Tasmania’s energy strategy:

– Provide energy at a competitive price

– Provide energy choice

– Maximise Tasmania’s renewable energy opportunities

– Utilise energy to facilitate state growth

– Ensuring efficient energy sector that is customer focused