Sub sections:
Biofuels
Developing Second Generation (GEN-2) biofuels
Funding body: NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, NSW I&I and UNE.
Project title: Developing Second Generation (GEN-2) biofuels.
Project Leader: Dr Tony Vancov
Collaborating Institutions: NSW I&I and UNE.
Project Budget: $740,000
Project Overview: First generation biofuels such as ethanol and bio-diesel are derived from agricultural crops and therefore compete with food and fibre production for water and/or fertile land. The ability of first generation biofuels to satisfy Australia’s principles of ecologically sustainable development is also the subject of increasing public debate.
Second generation biofuels include those which use ligno-cellulosic biomass to produce ethanol. However, these technologies are not yet commercially available. The development of second generation biofuels has the potential to replace the first generation biofuels and more effectively reduce Australia's reliance on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.
Second generation biofuel technologies have the potential to supplement fuel supplies in a sustainable manner by deriving biofuel from low cost, non-food materials or "waste" materials such as crop residues, forestry residues, algae, or tropical grasses. They may also be more readily adapted to land unsuitable for traditional food crops. Producing fuels from these materials also has the potential to significantly improve the cost effectiveness of biofuels.
Developing a sustainable, greenhouse-friendly biofuels industry based on sound science and located in regional NSW is the focus of a new research project being undertaken by the Primary Industries Innovation Centre (PIIC). PIIC is spending $740,000 over two years to investigate the technical issues behind setting up a biofuels industry using novel feedstocks.
Primary objectives of the research are to:
- Identify sources of biofuels, particularly those which derive from native plants,
- Evaluate and develop pre-treatment strategies, particularly for feedstock native to Australia,
- Assess and improve existing microorganisms to overcome problems associated with ethanol production from lignocellulosic hydrolysates,
- Determine the key natural resource management issues relevant to providing selected feedstocks, and
- Provide the science needed to produce optimal outcomes for individual enterprises and regions.
Dr Tony Vancov and Mr Shane McIntosh at the Wollongbar Agricultural Institute are assessing likely lignocellulose feedstock candidates. They have established a pre-treatment laboratory and lab-scale procedures have been developed. Three commercial cellulase enzyme preparations have been evaluated and preferred preparations have been selected for future work; Tony and Shane are well advanced with pre-treatment assessment of bagasse feedstock and have commenced assessment of forage and grain sorghum residues. The sorghum residues have created some excitement with unexpectedly high levels of sugars.
Tony is also exploring opportunities for collaboration with Ethtec which is the first commercial venture in Australia of next generation biofuel production. Ethtec has established a pilot ligno-cellulosic plant at the Harwood sugar mill near Grafton.
Contact: Dr Tony Vancov (02 6626 1359) tony.vancov@industry.nsw.gov.au