Research and reports

Where wood processing residues are insufficient to meet the fuel demand for a biomass fuelled boiler then alternative fuel supplies need to be considered. One fuel to consider is forest residues at landings and skid sites within the forests. Providing factors affecting supply are appropriately evaluated then these forest residues can be a cost effective fuel.

Transitionz Group Ltd (TGL) was commissioned by EECA to monitor and report on the installation. A questionnaire was drafted and a site visit arranged with AgR's Mark Cameron. The boiler and associated plant was inspected by TGL's Lloyd McGinty during a site visit on Friday 19th May 2009. This report collates the information from the questionnaire and site visit.

One of the energy forms that biomass can be converted into is electricity. In response to a call to the Bioenergy Hotline, bioenergy experts have completed a quick survey of the feasibility of a number of methods of converting biomass into electricity. The options for the generation of electricity were: 1) via a two-step process of first converting the biomass to ethanol and then to electricity via jet turbine; 2) via a steam turbine; 3) via a two step process of gasifing the biomass and then converting the gas to electricity via a gas turbine; 4) via an organic Rankine cycle.

This report presents a set of data as maps and tables, showing the amounts and locations of potential energy that can be derived from municipal, farm and some industrial wastes and effluents as at 2005.