Biogas Opportunities for Australia Report Release

Published Thu 06 Jun 2019

MEDIA RELEASE - THURSDAY 6 JUNE 2019

 
Biogas and Hydrogen, the key to driving a Renewable Gas Network in Australia: Energy Networks Australia and Bioenergy Australia unite behind the future opportunity

Bioenergy Australia and Energy Networks Australia have joined forces to host an event focussed on driving supportive outcomes for the development of a renewable gas industry in Australia. The event will see two significant industry associations working together collaboratively to support the development of the industry by actively showcasing how renewable biogas and hydrogen can create clean energy options for residential and commercial customers that use gas while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
 
The event will also see the release of a significant report "Biogas Opportunities for Australia" (written by ENEA with support from the International Energy Agency, Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Australia Renewable Energy Agency and Energy Networks Australia), which identifies the significant opportunity for the development of a biogas industry, as well as identifying the barriers and challenges currently presented.
 
This important “Biogas Opportunities for Australia” assessment of the sector identifies significant biogas potential in Australia is comparable to the current biogas production in Germany, equivalent to almost 9 per cent of Australia’s total final energy consumption. Moreover, the investment opportunity for new bioenergy and energy from waste projects is estimated at $A3.5 to 5.0 billion, with the potential to avoid up to 9 million tonnes of CO2e emissions each year.
 
In Australia, however, there are several barriers that need to be overcome in order to maximise the sector’s potential. The report reviews these barriers and provides some recommendations to advance Australia’s Biogas sector. The slow uptake of the technology has essentially been due to the difficult financial environment, policy uncertainty and grid connectivity.
 
Ms McKenzie, CEO Bioenergy Australia explained that if all the organic waste from Australian domestic, industrial and agricultural industries was treated in biogas plants, it would have the potential to power almost one million Australian homes and would have a significant impact on emissions reductions. We hope the Biogas Opportunities for Australia report can be used to inform policy and industry decisions into the future. As with any new industry, Government needs to play a crucial role in its development, and we look forward to working with the Government to drive this forward” said Ms McKenzie.
 
CEFC Bioenergy Lead Mac Irvine said: “We’re excited to be working with Bioenergy Australia and Energy Networks Australia to promote the opportunities for biogas to play an expanded role in Australia’s future energy mix. Emissions reduction from biogas can be considerable, through the displacement of higher emissions energy sources and also through the repurposing of feedstock which may have otherwise ended up in landfill.”

Bernadette McCabe, Principal Scientist – Energy and Bioresource Recycling, USQ and IEA Task 37 Australian representative has stated that “on behalf of IEA Bioenergy, we are pleased to support this report. Australia’s transition to renewable natural gas gives biogas a massive opportunity to help meet targets and decarbonisation efforts, as well as providing a holistic solution to a range of waste management issues”.
 
Mendo Kundevski, Principal at ENEA Consulting, emphasised “during this report we witnessed a strong stakeholder appetite to accelerate Australia’s renewable gas journey.”
 
“With additional policies, the biogas industry can offer many benefits, such as supporting jobs, especially in regional communities.”
 
For a full copy of the Biogas Opportunities for Australia report by ENEA go to www.bioenergyaustralia.org.au

-ENDS-

All media enquiries: Catherine Scheen | 0424184469 | catherine@bioenergyaustralia.org.au

Available for Interview:
● Shahana McKenzie, CEO, Bioenergy Australia

A range of visual assets of speakers and projects are available on request.
 
About Biogas
Biogas is a renewable, reliable and local source of energy. Biogas is a source of energy that can be converted into heat, electricity or used as a transport fuel. Biogas can also be upgraded into biomethane: a gas with a chemical composition very similar to natural gas. Biomethane can be injected into the gas grid and serve several uses for consumers such as heating, industrial purposes or fuel for gas vehicles.
 
Biogas is produced from the anaerobic (oxygen free) digestion of organic matter. It can be made from a large variety of organic resources, including industrial waste, agricultural waste, energy crops, sludge from waste water treatment and biowaste (co-digestion or mono-digestion of food waste and other types of biowaste).
In addition to energy production, anaerobic digestion also produces digestate – the material remaining after anaerobic digestion of biodegradable feedstocks. Digestate is a nutrient-rich material that can be used as a fertiliser and applied on agricultural land instead of chemical fertilisers.
 
About Bioenergy Australia
Bioenergy Australia is committed to accelerating Australia’s bioeconomy. Our mission is to foster the bioenergy sector to generate jobs, secure investment, maximise the value of local resources, minimise waste and environmental impact, and develop and promote national bioenergy expertise into international markets.
Australia lags behind the world when it comes to bioenergy, and we aim to change that. We empower, share knowledge, and connect Australian bioenergy producers, investors, researchers, and users to make Australia’s bioeconomy world-class. www.bioenergyaustralia.org.au
 
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