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Biomass
for energy
There are several Australian research programs
focusing on the potential of trees as a renewable energy source.
Timber can be converted into a range of energy forms including
charcoal, electricity, heat, and liquid and gaseous fuels. However,
because of the high harvesting and transporting costs associated
with wood fuels, the opportunities for competitive market development
may be limited to situations where there:
• is an existing stockpile of timber that has no other
use, such as mill waste;
• are large areas of arable land requiring revegetation
for other purposes, such as salinity control;
• is a high demand for energy and a lack of cheap alternatives,
such as in isolated areas off the main electricity grid.
As a result, local, state and federal government intervention
may be required to assist in the development and use of biofuels
as a source of energy. Existing government targets for developing
renewable energy sources is at present encouraging innovative
research and development projects involving multipurpose farm
plantations for energy production in Western Australia.
Conservation groups appear reluctance to accept biofuels, especially
where they involve burning native timbers, as a source of ‘green
power’, preferring other renewable energies such as wind
or solar.
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