Mitigate climate change by burning biofuels
IAN McGimpsey (ODT, 24.5.22) needs to bone up on the latest forestry research, particularly on biofuels. Prof Janis Lord was on the right track regarding ERP government funding to mitigate climate change through substituting woodbased biofuels to replace coal boilers.
For starters, Australian reports on coal as the preferred heating source for furnaces should be treated with a grain of salt. Coal mining is a major industry in that country. The extraction, processing and transportation of the products involves a high CO2/GhG footprint — before even heating a furnace. Naturally multinational corporations want to protect their industry. The facts are that no mining is involved with forestry.
Even the management, harvesting and processing negates CO 2 and GhG emissions.
Latest research (Scion Research/ Bio Energy Association) indicates that energy units in joules to fire a boiler results in only 2kg of CO2 emissions compared with coal at nearly 95kg.
Ash from chip or pellet burning is used for fertiliser mixes. Coal ash/ klinker ends up in landfills at a cost.
The stack of logs at the socalled chipping plant near Milton would probably be pulp or reject logs destined for the chip mill at Mataura. Mr McGimpsey should note that up to 12 grades of logs can be processed on landings. Pruned and A grades are suitable for construction. Low grades such as KIS and KS are usually exported. Some mid grades can be processed in mills using the latest technology and finger jointing systems for laminates.