Prospectus
Victorian Bioenergy Network

What is Bioenergy?

Bioenergy is a sustainable power source, extracted from biomass.  Biomass can include waste from agriculture and forestry, food processing, transport and end use. Uses of bioenergy can include the production of heat and electricity as well as use in transport fuels. 

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FAQ

What is Bioenergy?

Bioenergy – The Process

This category includes a diverse array of sources such as wood and wood residues, energy crops, and agricultural leftovers. It also encompasses organic waste and residues from various sectors including industry, agriculture, landscape management, and domestic outputs.

The transformative process involves converting biomass into various forms of fuel—solid, liquid, or gas. These fuels have versatile applications; they can efficiently generate heat and electricity for residential and industrial use or serve as eco-friendly transport fuels. By tapping into the cycle of photosynthesis, bioenergy provides a renewable, cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, contributing significantly to reducing our carbon footprint and fostering a sustainable energy future.

Furthermore, bioenergy plays a crucial role in complementing other renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which are subject to variability and intermittency. Bioenergy offers a stable and controllable output, making it an excellent partner for balancing the grid. It can be produced on-demand to meet energy requirements when sunlight is scarce or wind conditions are unfavorable. This synergy enhances the reliability of renewable energy systems and supports a more resilient energy infrastructure.

Case Studies

Bioenergy FAQ

Bioenergy is a form of renewable energy derived from recently living organic materials, collectively known as biomass. The conversion of biomass into energy can take various forms. It can be directly burned to produce heat or electricity. Biomass can also be converted into biogas through anaerobic digestion, a biological process, or into synthetic gas (syngas) through gasification, a partial combustion method. These biogases can serve as alternatives to natural gas and LPG, both of which are fossil fuels.  Furthermore, biomass can be transformed into transportation fuels, such as compressed biogas, ethanol produced from fermented biomass, and biodiesel derived from vegetable oils and fats. Emerging cellulosic biofuels, including green petrol and diesel, can be produced directly from plant matter. Essentially, for every fossil fuel-based product, there exists an equivalent replacement that can be derived from biomass.

Yes, it is if the fuel used comes from sustainably managed sources. Plants use photosynthesis to turn sunlight, CO2 and water into the cellulose in their leaves and stems and this is how energy and carbon is stored. When biomass is burned, the process is reversed and the carbon dioxide together with water vapour and energy in the form of heat is released. When plants are regrown, as with crops or plantations, the carbon dioxide is reabsorbed by the growing plants and the cycle continues. Provided the amount of biomass harvested annually is less than the annual growth rate for total area of farmland, plantation or forest, then bioenergy is renewable because the carbon is recycled and not added to atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Per kilowatt of peak/rated output, bioenergy systems are two to three times the cost of wind or solar but, unlike wind or solar, bioenergy is an “on demand” form of energy.  This means it doesn’t need storage and can produce much more energy over a full year. When the cost of sufficient storage to maintain a similar output is included, bioenergy systems are actually much, much cheaper than wind or solar.  The operating costs of a bioenergy system can be high depending on fuel costs.  If the fuel is a freely available residual product like sawdust or nut shells, then the cost is minimal.  Highly processed fuels such as wood pellets can be expensive. 

Sources of biomass can include residues and waste from;
  • Agriculture
  • Food processing, transport and end use
  • Wastewater treatment
  • Food and Green organics from household and commercial and industrial users
  • Construction and Demolition
Case Studies

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