Promoting a Clean Green New Zealand!
02:08:35 AM - 2007-02-19
BIOFUEL - NZ GOVERNMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS COMMITTED TO ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE!
Biofuel work actually began in New Zealand during the Crude Oil shocks of the 1970's, this research faded when oil prices fell, but is now driven by recent high oil prices and supply uncertainty, and now the growth is perhaps being pushed even more strongly by political and environmental factors.
Christchurch biodiesel developer Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation which is developing it's world-first algae-based fuel, it is still in the early stages, but show's potential for farmers to join the action.
The process of producing the fuel from algae in wastewater streams has attracted huge interest worldwide and dairy farmers could be set to benefit as the company hopes to trial harvesting algae from nutrient rich dairy waste streams this year. Be removing the algae to produce the fuel it also leaves a clean water source that can be reused for irrigation.
Algae's main difference from other biofuel feedstocks, is that it is a naturally occurring product that is not being utilised. New Zealand's dairy shed effluent produces about 160 million litres per year of algae, which could produce 7 petajoules (PJ) of biodiesel. EMS waste produces 50m litres per year, which can produce 2PJ of diesel. These two sources would provide 10% of the country's diesel requirements. Aquaflow Director Nick Gerritsen is ambitious that algae could supply up to 50% of New Zealand's diesel, if production also taps into waste streams from forestry, meat prcessing and other waste sources. New Zealand consumes three billion litres of diesel each year.
Using Biofuel to power tractors or trucks could also help businesses promoting a
Clean Green Image of New Zealand.
Whatever the results, biofuel production in New Zealand is a real and growing prospect because the Government has introduced it's sales obligation and research is intensifying.
Oil Companies will be required to sell a minimum percentage of biofuel in transport fuels from
0.25% in 2008, up to 2.25% by 2012.
ELSIE HAGLEY |
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