Biomass energy plant mooted for South East

Border Watch
Thursday 12/6/2008 Page: 3

A BIOMASS energy plant to convert forest residue into renewable energy has been mooted for development in the South East region. Such a plant could possibly provide power for 35,000 homes, by converting the residue created from the harvesting of the region's plantations forests, such as branches and twigs, into green energy. The potential for the plant has arisen after news of a partnership between plantation company Great Southern and energy company Pacific Energy.

The agreement, currently in place for a 12 month period, provides Pacific Energy with exclusive rights over the use of harvest residues from within Great Southern's national forest plantations, including those in the South East. During this time, they will assess the viability of creating biomass fuelled energy power stations in plantation locations across the country, including the South East.

Pacific Energy already owns and operates two hydroelectric power stations in Victoria and is currently developing a biomass fuelled power station in Perth, Western Australia, and New Jersey, USA. Pacific Energy managing director Adam Boyd said the current development of the WA based biomass plant would provided the company with practical information and experience, which could assist in the future possible development of a South East plant.

The company is hoping it will be viable to develop a 30 megawatt plant, which would provide enough energy to power 35,000 homes each year, based on average household consumption levels. He said the partnership with Great Southern would provide a significant source of forest residue, and other plantation owners may be invited to become involved with the project.

He said the coming six to nine months would be crucial in scoping out the viability of the South East project and gaining community and stakeholder support. The company has not yet gone into discussions with the region's councils, as details of where the project may be situated would not be known for some time. "It's too early, we've got to spend the next six months scoping the project, before we speak to councils," Mr Boyd said.

It is likely the project, if proved viable, would still be years from fruition. "We're probably a couple of years from making a decision," Mr Boyd said. "We have to get community and environmental approval... that takes a considerable period of time to evaluate everything." Community support for the project was vital, according to Mr Boyd, and would be a "big part of the success" of the venture.

"We have to put what is a piece of very significant infrastructure in place, that's aimed to benefit the community with jobs and opportunities, and also provide renewable energy, which the Federal Government is keen to have more of in the nation," Mr Boyd said. "But we have to put it somewhere that the people are going to be happy with. "We can't do this project without stakeholder interest and support." Great Southern managing director Cameron Rhodes said the company was excited about the partnership with Pacific Energy, which could provide benefits such as the creation of renewable energy and potentially additional income streams to investors.

"These developments further confirm the significant economic, social and environmental benefit to Australia of Great Southern's and the broader plantation industry's continuing investment in the development of timber plantation estates by the potential provision of a viable long term fuel source for renewable energy generation," Mr Rhodes said.