Australia Outlines Vision For Biomass Innovation And Energy Security
The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has outlined the Australian Government’s vision for biomass innovation, describing it as a significant opportunity to address energy security.
Addressing the Biomass Energy Investors Workshop in Canberra, Minister Ferguson emphasised the importance of biomass in the energy mix.
“The significance of sourcing energy from biomass is two-fold: to help in the transition to a low-carbon economy and enhance energy security through a broader range of fuels,” he said.
“Global targets for reducing carbon emissions demand innovative solutions to energy security, especially solutions which don’t deprive people of arable crops or their livelihoods. Biomass-fired electricity and second-generation biofuels are among those innovative solutions.”
Biomass can be used for electricity generation, for example by burning wood waste. It can also be used as a feedstock for cleaner-burning transport fuel.
Bio-energy technologies account for the largest share of renewable energy technologies globally. With its widespread use in developing countries, solid biomass is by far the largest renewable energy source. It accounts for nearly 10 per cent of world total primary energy supply or about three-quarters of renewables supply.
Minister Ferguson said the Australian Government was helping to maximise the potential from biofuels through direct funding, tax advantages and biomass-fired electricity generation through the expanded Renewable Energy Target.
“This year, I announced seven successful applicants under the Second Generation Biofuels Program,” he said. “This research program will focus on producing biofuels from algae, sugarcane biomass, mallee and forest waste.”
The Second Generation Biofuels Program has provided $14 million to fund projects examining a range of research, development and demonstration in biofuel feedstocks and technologies.
Topics: agriculture, arable crops, Australia, biomass, Biomass Energy Investors Wrokshop, biomass innovation, Canberra, clean energy, clean energy economy, economic development, Economy, electricity, energy, Energy Security, Governance, renewable energy
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