Next Generation Power

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Next Generation Power
Peter Lello - Business Development
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What everyone wants?

• Low impact
• Pure renewable
• Good LCA
• Easy sell?
• But

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What is not wanted?
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Fuel or Forest?
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Native Forest

• What is it?
• Old growth ie not harvested
• Greenwaste from urban development
• Intensively managed Public Forests / RFA
• Who classifies it?
• SEDA
• ORER / RE Act
• RFA
• Stakeholders govt, green grps

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Our Attempt to Classify
Biomass Description Volume
Bagasse Cane fibre 45
Wood Waste -off cuts -residential -industrial 4-6 15-20 2-3
Greenwaste - Council 20-25
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ORERs Process

• Many discussions on Woodwaste
• Which category under the Renewable Energy Act?
• MSW vs Woodwaste
• Onus of proof eg no land clearing material
• What is MSW? Domestic/council

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SEDAs Process

• Jan 1999 Energex applied for approval
• Feb SEDA informed that the expected sources were
  sawdust and mill waste land clearing from roads
  and housing plantation harvesting residue
  powerline clearing
• March 1999 SEDA approves Rocky Point output

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SEDAs Process

• August 1999 Confusion as only preapproval and
  referral to "old growth forests or chemically
  treated timbers are not to be included".
• 2000 - SCL presents Biomass Policy and Guidelines
  due to rising concerns
• Jan 2001 more information on fuel
• May 2001 SCL back to justifying what material is
  being used.
• 31 July SEDA approved with MUCH more detail

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Stakeholders Process

• Conservation Grps voice concern through media,
  government etc
• OR directly - SCL Victorian project decides not
  to proceed
• If no result - consultation leads to protests
• Protests leads either to a NO OR attempts at
  detailed policy
• Detail policy debate about benefits lost in
  general broad campaign

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Understanding the debate

• Role of renewable energy
• LCA
• Greenhouse neutrality proof
• Biodiversity loss existing vs future
• Belief in ESFM
• Public good value vs subsidies
• Rights of ecosystems to exist
• While still considering the..

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Holistic Benefits
Issue Effect Comment
Overall Resource Efficiency Positive/ Neutral Incr. efficiencies. Energy recovery Wastewater reuse
Global Warming Positive 130K CO2 displacement Methane prevention?
Air Quality Positive Decrease PM10 Decrease Pit/Open
Water Positive Beenleigh Reuse Key to regional reuse
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Holistic Benefits
Issue Effect Comment
Wastewater Positive/ Neutral Irrigation of wastewater Crop improvement
Noise Negative Biomass plant
Solid Waste Positive Ash recovery Trace elements Composting input
Land Use Neutral Existing use similar
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Conclusion?

• Economics are still hard..few projects..politics
  even harder
• Fuel source should focus on sawmill residue
  plantation first?
• Regulations should not be blind to positive
  environmental moves eg better waste disposal and
  energy crops

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Rocky Point
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Thank you