The stationary energy sector is responsible for 50 per cent of Australia’s dangerous greenhouse gas emissions. The Federal Government has committed to slashing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by expanding renewable energy targets. Bioenergy has the capacity to help meet these targets.

The Clean Energy Council is working to deliver the Bioenergy Roadmap – a strategic plan for the growth of the bioenergy sector in Australia to 2020.

How does bioenergy work?

Bioenergy converts biomass resources – such as municipal solid wastes, sewage, urban garden and food wastes, timber waste, agricultural crop wastes and animal wastes – into clean electricity.

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There is huge potential for bioenergy in Australia. Australia is rich in biomass resources, bioenergy generates power in a controlled, continuous manner (also known as base load) and essentially has zero net emissions.

Biomass vs. fossil fuel – a better deal for the future

Even today, bioenergy compares favourably with traditional electricity sources. On average today’s electricity costs $35-45 per megawatt hour (MWh); a price with which bioenergy can easily compete.

However, the expected price rises in energy due to emissions trading and new technologies – such as carbon captures and storage – suggests that bioenergy may become an even lower cost option for power in the future.

There is clearly an opportunity for an expanded role of bioenergy in the electricity sector. Not withstanding that bioenergy currently provides less than 1 per cent of Australia’s electricity supply, this clean power source can easily grow to meet the rising demands of households and businesses. The challenge now is to incorporate bioenergy production into the processes of the agricultural, food processing and waste management industries and distribute the clean power produced.

About the Bioenergy Roadmap

The Roadmap is a plan for increasing bioenergy production around Australia. The Roadmap will cover:

* Practices, processes and facilities of the waste management, agricultural and food processing industries * The nature of bioenergy projects, and how they are developed and financed * The operation of the electricity system * Government policies * Education and training for those involved in the bioenergy supply chain

The project is due for completion by the end of June 2008. Following project completion, the Clean Energy Council plans work actively with governments to ensure that the strategies identified in the Roadmap are implemented. The Clean Energy Council is currently gathering and analysing information on biomass resources in Australia.

This project is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Greenhouse Office Low Energy Technology Abatement program.