Waste, energy and the future
BIOENERGY Australia will hold its 19th annual conference in October, celebrating the growing strength of the sector with the theme Bioenergy Strong – driving commercial outcomes.
Bioenergy Australia chief executive Shahana McKenzie said the two-day conference would be held at the spectacular State Library of Queensland in Brisbane from October 17–18.
“The conference agenda this year is one I’m particularly excited and passionate about,” Ms McKenzie said.
“We’ll be covering some hugely topical subjects such as the role of waste to energy in solving our waste challenge, the roadblocks to biofuels deployment and analysis of Australia’s bioenergy performance.”
A panel discussion will be held on the topic of waste to energy and its potential role in Australia’s future.
“What role does waste to energy play in tackling Australia’s waste challenge?” Ms McKenzie said
“While councils are wrestling with increasing amounts of waste going to landfill, with China’s National Sword restricting the exportation of recyclables, our ministers across our nation are looking for urgent solutions and options.”
A conference feature presentation will be consultancy and audit company KPMG’s release of its State of the Nation bioenergy report, delivering an incisive analysis of Australia’s bioenergy performance.
“I’m sure some feathers will be ruffled when we announce how New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland rank,” Ms McKenzie said.
The conference will also explore issues such as grid integration and biofuel futures.
“Whether it is renewable fuels, electricity, or gas – a major challenge faced by all of the renewables is how they obtain access to the distribution network that ultimately reaches consumers,” she said.
“The conference this year will seek to expose the roadblocks, challenges and barriers to successful deployment of bioenergy across the energy mix.”
Bioenergy Strong will also include a number of social and field events, including the inaugural Bioenergy Innovation Awards presentation night on October 17 on the Maiwar Green at the State Library of Queensland, and site visits on Friday, October 19, to three bioenergy sites in the Brisbane region.