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 3314 GWh of electricity in Australia in 2019. This equated to 1.4 per cent of total electricity generation, and 6.0 per cent of total clean energy generation.
of total clean energy generated in 2019
of total electricity generated in 2019
Four bioenergy projects were completed in 2019, the largest of which was the 3.1 MW Moxey Farms waste-to-energy plant. The system uses manure from the dairy farm's 6000 head of cattle to create methane through anaerobic fermentation, which is then burned to produce electricity. The electricity produced is equivalent to that used by 3600 homes and is enough to provide 100 per cent of the farm's electricity needs.
Two landfill gas projects were also completed in 2019, one in Tasmania and the other in Queensland. Landfill gas involves capturing the gas from decomposing organic matter at rubbish landfills, and, rather than releasing it into the atmosphere, burning it to create electricity.
| Project | State | Installed capacity (MW) | Fuel source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moxey Farms Waste-to Energy Project | NSW | 3.1 | Agricultural waste |
| Lidcombe Brewery Biogas Cogeneration | NSW | 2.0 | Food processing waste |
| Copping Landfill | TAS | 1.1 | Food processing waste |
| Bunya Landfill | QLD | 1.1 | Food processing waste |
Clean Energy Australia Report
