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Bioenergy

Photograph of wood pelletsBioenergy is generated from the use of organic matter as a source of energy. It covers a variety of fuels that can be used in power generation or transport.

Bioenergy offers several advantages as a renewable source. It can provide a controllable and continuous supply of power and can use organic material that would have been wasted to create energy.

Bioenergy is already used in some situations today, especially when using waste product to create energy.

Snapshot of the technology

Bioenergy technology is generally well-established, and the ways of converting biomass into bioenergy are numerous. For example biomass can be burnt directly or converted into a gas or liquid.

In 2007-08, Australian production of bioenergy totalled around 1.3% of Australia’s total energy production. Worldwide, bioenergy is growing as a renewable energy source. 

Status of the bioenergy industry in Victoria

Currently, bioenergy, along with wind and hydro, is one of the most used renewable energy sources in Victoria. Most of the bioenergy used is comprised of wood and wood-waste in the pulp and paper industry and in residential fireplaces. 

The Victorian Government is supporting research into next generation biofuels which do not compete with food crops. These newer technologies will use things like industry waste and non-food parts of current crops as an energy source.

The future for bioenergy

Bioenergy is likely to grow as a sector over the coming decades, but its prospect of becoming a major source of electricity for the state is limited.

The expansion of the bioenergy and biofuels industry is usually constrained by the availability of the raw material used to produce the bioenergy. 

The life-cycle carbon emissions of biofuels also vary significantly, depending on the raw material used to produce the bioenergy.

Some bioenergy projects may also have amenity issues, like smell, which can affect local areas. But with good management and informed decisions on where these resources should be located, this can be controlled.