First of all, what is bio energy? Bio energy is a renewable energy derived from biomass – eg. timber, and accounts for the majority of renewable energy consumption (almost 5% primary energy consumption compared to only 0.3% of wind and solar combined).

Delta Electricity (who run nearby power station Wallerawang) are running a trial of “renewable fuel pellets” (derived from Mallee timber) to supplement coal by up to 20%. They have initiated tree planting projects in the Forbes district (source: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au)

Local landholders interested in farm forestry opportunities participated in an interview with researchers in 2010. This information is being used to study the potential viability of a bio energy industry based around plantation biomass in the Central Tablelands region.

This collaborative research project involves the University of NSW, Sydney University, the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, Catchment Management Authorities and Local Councils.

Through the interviews in 2010, researchers learned from landholders with previous experience in farm forestry, as well as from those who have established trees for their ecological services such as salinity mitigation, erosion control and micro climate impacts.

The information from these interviews has now fed into a much bigger project (involving the CSIRO and NSW Industry & Investment amongst other partners) which plans to use the Central Tablelands as a case study area for the development of a bio energy industry.

A workshop coming up in Lithgow on 14th November 2011 will focus on commercial aspects of developing a bio-energy industry in our region.

See the attachment below for more information and to register for the workshop.