SEMINAR: Bioenergy Forum: Can biogas be the answer for future energy needs?

Transition into our Energy Future

Steve Smith is Professor of Plant Genomics in the School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, and Chief Investigator in the ARC CoE in Plant Energy Biology at UWA. He has previously been employed at CSIRO Division of Plant Industry in Canberra and the University of Edinburgh, and came to UWA as a Federation Fellow. His research focuses on plant energy metabolism – how plants capture and use energy from the sun. Steve is interested in how humanity will deal with energy in the future where alternative supplies of energy must be renewable and/or sustainable. In order to explore and discuss the development of transitional and varied alternative energy sources Steve coordinates a Bioenergy Forum at UWA which invites UWA researchers to present current research into biofuels, bioenergy and renewable energy options. Please come and join our Forum and network with like-minded thinkers afterwards with drinks and nibbles.

Sasha Jenkins is a Research Associate in the School of Earth and Environment and has continued her research into the development of anaerobic digestion biotechnologies to convert municipal solid waste into biogas, soil improvers and other useful end-products which began at University of Newcastle, UK. Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen and originates from biogenic material and can be used as a type of biofuel. Biogas produced by anaerobic digestion or fermentation of biodegradable materials such as biomass, manure, sewage, municipal waste, green waste and energy crops comprises primarily of methane and carbon dioxide. This gas can be used to create electricity, heat, or it may be processed further for other byproducts which can be sold for a profit. Is this form of alternative energy the answer for the future?