Like Banana waste-to-energy process proves viable
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Research has shown that a banana waste-to-energy process is technically possible, viable and would salvage value from the substantial volumes of banana production waste in the form of second-grade fruit and stalks.
Australian Banana Growers’ Council President Patrick Leahy said an additional benefit of the waste-to-energy conversion was that the residues from it can be reprocessed into organic fertilisers and provide even more added value.
Mr Leahy said the research findings suggest that an anaerobic digestion facility capable of processing 6000 tonnes per annum of residues will produce the energy equivalent of 222,000 litres of diesel annually.
"The research indicates that a capital cost of about $550,000 would be required to set up the waste-to-energy facility and the energy generated could be used to displace diesel or industrial use LPG," Mr Leahy said.
The ABGC last year engaged Ergon Energy to manage stage one of this research project, which included work undertaken by The University of Queensland and financed by the Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund.
More than 80 percent of Australia’s annual production of 315,000 tonnes are grown in north Queensland and packed in consolidated facilities, therefore the industry wastes including the peduncle and unmarketable fruit are similarly aggregated.
"The report concludes that banana waste is attractive as a potential energy feedstock because it is extremely homogenous, comes in high concentrations within a small geographic area and is fully bio-degradable," Mr Leahy said.
He said the study has shown that remote waste-processing facilities are technically possible and economically feasible, and the researchers now strongly recommend that a proto-type facility be established.
The research report said this would act as a proof of the concept, be a tool to eliminate in-field process issues and provide the basis for continuous process/system improvement. Because the residues from post-anaerobic digestion are recognised as a rich nutrient source, a market survey of organic fertilisers needs to be completed with the view to further adding value.
The waste-to-energy project is one of the research agenda items at the Sixth Australian Banana Industry Congress to be held in Cairns on August 10-13, with a field day at Tully on August 12. Registration brochures are now available and more information can be found at www.abgc.org.au.
24 June 2005
Maybe one day we'll all be filling the tank with "bananeum" . Wont the oil companies love that ?
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