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 and solar farms.
Bioenergy generated approximately 3164 GWh of electricity in Australia in 2020. This equated to 1.4 per cent of total electricity generation, and 5.0 per cent of total clean energy generation.
Several notable bioenergy projects were announced in 2020, including:
Project | State | Installed capacity (MW) | Fuel source |
---|---|---|---|
Mugga Lane | ACT | 4.2 | Landfill gas |
Seaford Heights | SA | 3.2 | Landfill gas |
Clean Energy Australia Report