Cameron Dick
Six new bio projects worth about $22 million are on the way with the first grants announced from the Palaszczuk Government’s $5m Queensland Waste to Biofutures Fund (W2B Fund).
Nearly $2m has been awarded six businesses and universities innovating in the waste-to-bioproducts space, state development minister Cameron Dick says.
“These six projects will create biogas, syngas and fertiliser replacements, and energy to run industrial plants and charge electric vehicles, but most importantly they’ll create more jobs for Queenslanders.
He says the Palaszczuk Government is committed to creating a $1 billion sustainable and export-oriented industrial biotechnology and bioproducts sector in Queensland.
Environment and science minister Leeanne Enoch says it’s important steps are taken now in moving towards a more sustainable future.
W2B Fund recipients and their projects:
- BE Power Solutions ($500,000): Biogas-solar power plant at AJ Bush rendering facility Bromelton, Scenic Rim, providing power for the facility and the grid
- Wildfire Energy ($500,000): Waste-to-energy demonstration project in Redbank Plains, Ipswich, which will convert feedstocks into syngas, enabling the production of renewable electricity, hydrogen and chemicals
- Energy360 ($363,500): Bioenergy plant and electric vehicle (EV) charging station with future potential to power Bundaberg Regional Council waste-recovery trucks
- Nilwaste Energy ($250,000): Demonstration plant at QUT’s industrial testing facility in Banyo to convert waste into bioenergy
- Pearl Global ($250,000): Project at Staplyton on the Gold Coast producing bioenergy from waste gas
- University of Southern Queensland ($50,000): Toowoomba project to create granulated organomineral fertilisers from biosolids
Bioenergy Australia chief executive officer Shahana McKenzie says the W2B Fund is helping Queensland companies advance some exciting projects.
“These projects have enormous potential to attract investment in the bioenergy sector and create jobs.
“Bioenergy is attracting considerable interest worldwide due to its enormous potential to reduce carbon emissions and drive a more sustainable energy future.”
Queensland’s first Bio Innovation Week from November 11-15 focuses on new opportunities for economic growth and the creation of high-value, knowledge-intensive regional jobs.
