Sub sections:
Biochar and Bioenergy Technology Solutions
Eureka Prize finalist in 2009, Adriana Downie Chief Technology Officer, BEST Energies Australia presented a public lecture on biochar and bioenergy solutions at UNE on 24th July.
Australian developed biochar technology is leading the world in demonstrating carbon negative (sucking CO2 from the atmosphere) renewable energy production. The technology recycles waste biomass such as animal manures and municipal greenwaste to produce renewable electricity (displacing fossil fuels) and a very stable form of carbon called biochar which can be sequestered beneficially over the long-term in soils (natural, low-risk sinks).
Technology developers BEST Energies have a fully operational slow pyrolysis demonstration facility at Somersby, NSW. The technology has been proven to be robust to a large variety of waste organic feedstocks, to be a net exporter of energy and to have a negative carbon balance, sequestering more carbon than it emits at a ratio of 4 to 1. BEST have been working closely with NSW Department of Primary Industries to verify their AgricharTM biochars potential to both sequester carbon and improve productivity in a range of Agricultural applications.
Biochar offers many advantages for environmental management as it combines solutions for biomass waste management and resources recovery, with the production of renewable ‘green' energy, the increased sustainability of agriculture through biochar application, increased energy efficiency in industry, carbon sequestration and rural development. Several collaborative feasibility studies have been conducted to assess the business case for the commercial role out of the technology for the benefit of Australian industry and farmers. The economic drivers are well understood and the commercialisation pathway and near term applications will be discussed
Adriana is a leading figure in the promotion and development of biochar and was recently selected as one of the Next 100 Emerging Leaders by The Australian for her work in this area. Adriana has been operating as the chief technology officer for BEST Energies Australia for the past four years. She holds bachelor degrees in both Chemical Engineering and Science from the University of Queensland. She is also currently undertaking the final stages of a PhD program at the University of New South Wales on the pyrolysis of biomass for biochar and bioenergy for which she was selected as a finalist for a Eureka science prize.