Report
Bioenergy in remote Indigenous communities: Utilising woody waste from mine clearing in northern Australia
IEA Bioenergy
2022
Abstract
Remote Indigenous communities around the world are socioeconomically disadvantaged and highly reliant on fossil fuels for their energy needs. Indigenous community-owned forests are often cleared and burnt ahead of mining developments. The potential for forest biomass salvaged from mine-clearing to support the energy needs of the remote Indigenous community of Aurukun and two nearby potential bioenergy hubs in the western Cape York Peninsula in northern Australia is evaluated. Results show at least 88,100 dry tonnes of forest biomass per year are available in the first thirteen years (from 2021) and 99,300 dry tonnes/year between years 14-40. Modelled energy yields from gasification show promising results, providing over 60% of the energy demand in two of the three bio-hubs in the next 13 years. Pyrolysis energy yields are low, however, additional biochar yields can be used for local mine rehabilitation and could provide new local Indigenous employment and business opportunities. The findings can inform the mining sector in making more informed land use and energy decisions, and bioenergy industry policymakers and investors wanting to support remote Indigenous community development in places where extractive industry developments are clearing large areas of forest.
Details
- Title
- Bioenergy in remote Indigenous communities: Utilising woody waste from mine clearing in northern Australia
- Authors
- Sam Van Holsbeeck (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Forest Industries Research Centre
- Additional notes
- IEA Bioenergy Task 43.
- Publication details
- 20 pages
- Publisher
- IEA Bioenergy
- Organisation Unit
- Forest Industries Research Centre; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99745898802621
- Output Type
- Report
Metrics
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