APPENDIX 2
“Bioenergy is energy derived from biomass, which is organic material such as wood, plants,
or animal wastes. Bioenergy can be used to generate electricity, produce heat, and also for
the production of biofuels.” (Bioenergy WM, 2006.
http://www.bioenergywm.co.uk/default.aspx)
Bioenergy involves taking conventional power generation to extract considerable amounts
of clean, low-emission electricity from many different agricultural crop wastes, plantation
wood waste, garden and food waste, sugar cane, sewage and animal wastes.
It generates power through a renewable source that is stored and well controlled.
‘Throughout Australian capital cities landfill gas plants are already in operation for over 90%
of the year which is comparable to traditional energy power stations. By using Bioenergy,
one mega watt hour saves one tone of CO2.’ (Clean Energy Council, 2007.
www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au)
Bioenergy can be classified according to either fuel or the type of technology used to
generate the electricity.
Bioenergy type
Examples
methane gas
landfills and sewage treatment plants
wet wastes
abattoirs, feedlots and food processing
dry agricultural byproducts
sugar cane waste
municipal mixed wastes
household garbage and pruning’s with recyclables removed
forestry by-products
remnant material from existing sawmills and managed forestry
operation
(NSW Government Department of Water and Energy, 2009
http://www.dwe.nsw.gov.au/energy/sustain_renew_bioenergy.shtml)
Some advantages include:
 It can be produced using waste matter
 Save the environmental and economic costs
 Possibility of increasing the economy if used in mass amounts, reducing the need to
import fossil fuels
 Reduces carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
 It is a potentially renewable natural resource that would help supply energy
indefinitely.
The Disadvantages include:




Biomass has smaller energy content then fossil fuels
Higher cost of labor, transportation and storage
With the drought, water and nutrients are in short supply are needed for biomass
crops
There is no demand for Bioenergy until there are cost saving initiatives, but these
initiative will not been seen until there is a demand for Bioenergy, or non-renewable
resources are more expensive
(Primary ways of using Bioenergy, 2009.
http://science.jrank.org/pages/867/Bioenergy.html)
How it reduces green house emissions?
(NSW Government Department of Water and Energy, 2009
http://www.dwe.nsw.gov.au/energy/sustain_renew_bioenergy.shtml)
Black balloons are used to describe measure and visualize greenhouse emissions. It is a
recent Victorian campaign to advertise the reduction of greenhouse emissions. A balloon is
estimated to hold 50 g of green house gasses. (Resource smart, 2009.
http://www.saveenergy.vic.gov.au/getthefacts/whatisblackballoon.aspx)
Reference:
Bioenergy WM, 2006. http://www.bioenergywm.co.uk/default.aspx
Clean Energy Council, 2007. www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au
NSW Government Department of Water and Energy, 2009. http://www.dwe.nsw.gov.au/
energy/sustain_renew_bioenergy.shtml
Primary ways of using Bioenergy, 2009. http://science.jrank.org/pages/867/Bioenergy.html
Resource smart, 2009.
http://www.saveenergy.vic.gov.au/getthefacts/whatisblackballoon.aspx