Biotech Updates

Bioenergy Can Replace 30% of Australia’s Petroleum-based Energy by 2025

August 14, 2009
http://www.scu.edu.au/research/cpcg/index.php/news/?id=429
http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2009/08/13/reports-says-australia-could-produce-25-percent-of-its-fuel-from-bioenergy-by-2025-no-competition-with-food-2/

Based on its new analysis of second generation biofuels, Southern Cross University's Centre for Plant Conservation and Genetics (Australia) reports that 30% of Australia's transport energy can be provided with biofuels by 2025. This can be achieved without adverse impacts on food production and biodiversity by using plant materials that are either (1) by-products of plant matter (such as sugarcane bagasse) rather than the edible plant parts, or (2) plants which thrive on marginal grazing land such as eucalypts. According to Centre Director Robert Henry, the construction of 100 conversion facilities, located in rural and regional Australia would also be needed. A well-managed bioenergy program would also generate jobs in the rural and regional communities. According to Professor Henry, "We estimate that between 2015 and 2025, more than 3450 jobs could be created in agriculture and transport, more than 28,000 in the construction of the facilities and more than 16,000 in the ongoing operation of these facilities.".