Research and reports

Bio oil is rich in chemicals, is a carbon neutral combustion fuel, and offers a number of development paths for higher value fuels, including fuel supplements or replacers for both Gas turbines and reciprocating engines both for transport and power generation.

EECA have supported the installation of a bio-oil pilot plant able to convert 1 tonne per day (24 hours) of biomass (dry) into bio-oil, bio-char and syn-gas.

This monitoring report records the basic process and the outputs of the installation.

The Little Sisters of the Poor (LSOP) Sacred Heart Home and Hospital in Dunedin installed a wood chip boiler and thermal store. The project includes a Binder 300 kW boiler operating on wood chips, a 15,000 litre hot water accumulator tank, a fuel handling system and various controls and pumps.

The low temperature hot water (LTHW) 300 kW boiler is the primary heat source for the accumulator tank which provides heating and hot water as required by LSOP.

This study considered the feasibility and economics of electricity generation from the geothermal resources available at Ngapuna, in the vicinity of the wastewater treatment plant in Rotorua. The project is intended to be implemented as a joint venture between the Pukeroa OruawhataTrust and the Rotorua District Council (RDC), and could generate around 1MW of electricity to be used onsite with excess sold.

Goldpine Industries Limited produce fencing posts and other timber products at their Golden Downs site. The process produces a timber waste product that can be used as a fuel. However the fuel produces unique challenges in handling due to its bridging properties. This monitoring report looks at how Goldpine overcame the fuel handling challenges.