Next steps for innovative biofuel technology

Perth, AUSTRALIA — ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the project would result in simple, cost effective production of renewable energy from biomass.

“Renergi was created out of Curtin University to commercialise some of its bioenergy ideas. Renergi is aiming to scale up existing technology successfully developed with ARENA funding support,” Mr Frischknecht said.

“These projects demonstrate how ARENA’s unique role supports renewable energy technologies across the innovation chain, advancing them from the laboratory to the field. “A 100 kg per hour biomass conversion (pyrolysis) unit will be designed and constructed along with a complementary 20 litre per hour biorefinery unit.

“Biomass like agricultural waste and mallee can be used to produce products that replace fossil fuels, including bio-oil and advanced biofuels. “Renergi’s approach would allow green bio-crude to be produced by conversion units at the source of feedstocks and refined into high quality transport biofuels at a large central refinery.” Mr Frischknecht said the technology had the potential to reduce the cost of bioenergy by offering novel approaches to conversion and refining processes.

“Existing processes require agricultural waste crops to first be ground into smaller pieces, costing considerable time and energy,” Mr Frischknecht said. “Renergi’s solution aims to streamline this step by incorporating steel grinding balls into a rotating biomass conversation unit, allowing simultaneous break-down and gasification. “The plant will operate at low temperatures and close to atmospheric pressure increasing safety and reducing energy requirements and capital costs.

“Successful development of an effective bioenergy technology could have significant export potential as well as being good for Australia’s biofuels industry.

“ARENA is working with Renergi to develop a rigorous strategy aimed at increasing scale and ultimately making the technology commercially competitive.”

The $12.9 million project is scheduled for completion in October 2017.

About The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)

ARENA is the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, a commercially oriented agency established by the Australian Government on 1 July 2012. We have two objectives: to improve the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies, and to increase the supply of renewable energy in Australia.

We have approximately $2.5 billion in funding to:

- fund renewable energy projects
- support research and development activities
- support activities to capture and share knowledge.
- ARENA is supportive of all renewable energy technologies and projects across the various stages of the innovation chain – from research in the laboratory to large scale technology projects.

For further information about ARENA, please visit the website here