Bioenergy

New technology is turning sludge from waste water into valuable bio-fuel with environmental and financial benefits for a Southland meat processing plant.

It's a bubbling fluidised bed boiler, well-proven overseas for its ability to handle low quality fuels. The 8.5MW unit was installed at Silver Fern Farms' Finegand plant by Energy For Industry under a build, own, operate agreement.

Energy for Industry purchased the Dunedin Energy Centre from the Otago District Health Board (ODHB) in 2002 under a BOOT partnership (Build, Own, Operate, Transfer). The energy centre comprises four coal-fired steam boilers with a total capacity of 30 MWth and a steam reticulation system.

Rotorua Girls High School requires heating for around 40% of the school year. The school in not only concerned about its enviromental impact but sees a role in providing environmental leadership to its students and the community.

Historically many schools have used coal boilers but particulate and carbon emissions are now being targeted for reduction.

This report details the commissioning and some financials of a moisture meter used by HA Foote Haulage supplying wood chips to Tahuna Intermediate School in Dunedin. A specialist wood chip moisture metering device is used to define the energy content of wood chips HA Foote Haulage delivers.