Australian bioenergy sector talks investment potential

Clean Energy Council
25 September 2008

CANBERRA: The Australian bioenergy industry is meeting today to discuss opportunities for converting the nation's rich renewable biomass resource into electricity - set to unlock billions of dollars worth of renewable investments and significantly reduce Australia's carbon footprint.

Delegates from around the country attending the bioenergy Australia quarterly will also officially launch the Australian bioenergy Roadmap. The Roadmap was developed with input from the entire, diverse bioenergy industry and has a vital role in ensuring bioenergy plays its part in Australia's low-carbon energy transition.


The Australian bioenergy Roadmap outlines a clear strategy to achieve:

• A growing, sustainable Australian bioenergy industry;

• Increased community awareness of bioenergy;
• A consistent national policy to support the industry's development; and 

• Long-term investor certainty.


Known as man's oldest energy source, bioenergy has been quietly providing renewable energy in Australia and around the world for decades. It is a form of zero-net-emission electricity or thermal energy that can be generated from biomass or organic matter, such as landfill, sugarcane or sewage. 
"Bioenergy represents one of the few untapped energy sources left in Australia. We have a range of proven conversion technologies and an abundance of biomass resource so the industry is well placed to push bioenergy to the forefront" said Rob Jackson, GM Policy Clean Energy Council.


Currently less than 1% of Australia's electricity generation comes from bioenergy, well below the 14% benchmark already achieved in leading OECD countries. bioenergy has the potential to provide 73 terawatt hours of electricity generation per year to 2050 – that's enough to power 10 million homes.


50% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from the stationary energy sector, so any solution to climate change must first target the energy sector specifically. With the global shift to a carbon costed economy upon us, the commercial incentive to invest in proven alternatives such as bioenergy is now obvious. 
"Armed with viable renewable energy technologies, like bioenergy, we have the tools to reduce emissions, displace fossil fuels and combat climate change," Mr Jackson said.


For a full copy of the Australian bioenergy Roadmap visit www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/bioenergy