Bioenergy involves efficiently extracting considerable quantities of clean, low-emission electricity from waste. Bioenergy fuel sources are often derived from agricultural, forestry and municipal wastes. Sugar cane waste – known as bagasse – remains the most common form of bioenergy generation, closely followed by landfill gas.
Other common sources include the black liquor derived from paper making, as well as sewage gas and food waste. Bioenergy generators tend to be smaller than hydro plants and wind farms.
Bioenergy generated approximately 3700 GWh of electricity in Australia in 2017. This equated to 1.7 per cent of total electricity generation, and 9.7 per cent of total clean energy generation.
of total clean energy generated in 2017
of total electricity generated in 2017
MSF Sugar's $75 million Green Energy Power Plant at its Tableland Mill was one of the few major new bioenergy projects commissioned in 2018. The 24 MW plant will use bagasse from local sugar operations to produce power.
Construction on a $400 million waste-to-energy power plant at Kwinana in Western Australia reached financial close in October 2018. The 40 MW project is being led by Phoenix Energy, which estimates the plant will open by the end of 2021.
| Project | State | Installed capacity (MW) | Fuel source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worsley Multi-Fuel Cogeneration Plant | WA | 114 | Biomass |
| NAWMA | SA | 2.4 | Solar, biomass |
| Tong Park | QLD | 1.2 | Biomass |
| Rewaste Wollert | VIC | 1.1 | Biomass |
Clean Energy Australia Report
