Bioenergy
Bioenergy is heat, electricity, light or transport fuel that is extracted from biological material (biomass). Biomass is a store of solar energy. Energy from the sun is captured through photosynthesis and stored as the plant or tree grows. This section includes information on the different types of biogenergy and how they can be used
Also check out Wood energy
Generating bioenergy
Bioenergy can be generated from:
- Trees and crops. They may be grown specifically for their energy content or be a by-product of another purpose.
- Biomass derived from waste products from industrial, commercial, agricultural and domestic activities. These wastes include animal manure, animal fat and municipal solid waste.
Liquid biofuels
Liquid biofuels are fuels produced from renewable materials, such as plant and animal matter. They are usually blended with petrol and diesel to make biofuel blends for use in vehicles. Biodiesel can also be used to as fuel for boilers, in place of diesel.
By using a renewable alternative to fossil fuels you can:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Improve air quality by reducing air pollution. This is often important for businesses if your employees are working in confined spaces such as warehouses, where forklift emissions may be intense.
Cutting transport emissions with biofuels
Fuel for use in vehicles should only be purchased from established fuel retailers. It is illegal to sell biodiesel or bioethanol that does not meet the Engine Fuel Quality Regulations. 'Backyard' biodiesel may not meet quality specifications and may result in engine damage, so is not recommended.
Liquid biofuels in action
Read about buisnesses benefiting from using liquid biofuels:
- Verkerks converted its diesel boiler to burn locally produced tallow. And in the process reduced its particulate emissions by 60% and its energy bill by an estimated $150,000 per year
- Lazy Shag installed a multi-oil clean burn boiler to supply the hostel's hot water. It burns used cooking oil from local restaurants.
Biogas
The combustible gas (mainly methane) given off during the breakdown of biological material is known as biogas. The use of biogas by New Zealand businesses is in its infancy. However some businesses are using biogas from biological waste - such as effluent, food waste and landfill waste - to generate energy.
Watercare Services Limited in Auckland has used the methane generated by their seven biodigesters at the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant to generate electricity since 1960. This electricity is then used to power other aspects of the business, reducing its reliance on national electricity providers. This offsets approximately 40,275 MWhs of electricity per annum.
Pig farms throughout the country are evaluating the use of pig manure in different biogas systems. The systems convert methane emitted from pig manure into renewable energy that can be used to power the farm.
More information
- Types of biofuels
- Specifications and regulations concerning biofuels
- Bioenergy options for New Zealand (PDF 168kb)
- Bioenergy Association of New Zealand.
