SEMINAR: Reliable sustainable biomass production for energy production

Bioenergy is a favorable option at remote sites where land is available with reasonable soils and sufficient water for the required biomass production. Immediate use of the biomass can be made with off-the-shelf thermochemical conversion systems providing syngas or electricity via generators or enzymatic fermentation to alcohol. Maintaining reliable sustainable biomass production is the challenge.

A grant from the Department of Regional Development and Lands has enabled Consolidated Minerals Limited (CML) to establish a pilot 2 hectare plot of 5 test species to investigate sustainable bioenergy production at the Woodie Woodie minesite. This mine is in the Telfer region of the east Pilbara, north Western Australia. The research begins with the analysis of the CML trial which will provide much of the needed information on survival and annual production, the quality of biomass suitable for various bioenergy conversion systems, and the economic viability of substituting trucked-in diesel with on-site bioenergy production. Hand in hand with issues of production and biomass quality is the issue of environmental sustainability with respect to soil health, nutrients, and perhaps most critically, water. A large supply of potable water is available for irrigation, but little is known about plant water usage or hydrological implications of irrigated plantations in the arid Pilbara environment. Key issues include irrigation efficiency, plant water use efficiency, salinity control and hydrological impacts. The background and development of this project will be presented at the Bioenergy Forum at 4 -5 pm on Tuesday 26th October with drinks and nibbles during networking after the presentation.