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Energy Webinar Series: Bioenergy

Date:    Thursday, 22 July

Time: 12 to 1 pm

Where: Online using Zoom or call in

Register or join the webinar here: https://bit.ly/3wtfeAW

The next webinar in Agriculture Victoria’s energy webinar series will focus on bioenergy. Bioenergy is energy generated from organic materials such as manure, straw or produce residues through processes including anaerobic digestion and combustion.

During this webinar:

Stephan Tait, Scolexia will explore anaerobic digestion including:

• What is anaerobic digestion?
• How does an anaerobic digester operate?
• The application, opportunities and benefits of anaerobic digestion in agriculture
• Potential risks and barriers.

Sohum Gandhi, Enriva will explain thermal bioenergy including:

• How do thermal bioenergy technologies operate?
• The application, opportunties and benefits of thermal bioenergy in agriculture
• Common risks and barriers.

Kelly Wickham, Agriculture Victoria will give a broad overview of the bioenergy sector in Victoria.

There will be an opportunity for questions after the presentations.

If you have not previously used Zoom, please join the webinar five minutes early to set up.

If you need assistance registering or would like more information please contact Sarah Clack on 0417 316 345 or [email protected]

For information on other webinars in this series or other energy events please visit: https://extensionaus.com.au/energysmartfarming/events/

Exploring Beyond Diesel Forums

NSW Dept Primary Industries and partner agencies recently ran a great 3-part series of on-line forums which explored options to improve farm productivity and reduce carbon emissions related to diesel fuel use on farms. The webinars cover topics ranging from electrification, alternative fuels and new technologies.

The three forums feature a diverse range of expert presenters who explore some of the ways we can move beyond diesel, including:

• solar to replace diesel pumping,
• developments in battery storage,
• electric tractor developments,
• methane as a diesel replacement,
• methane powered tractors,
• biodiesel and hydrogen power.

Our Chief Scientist, Dr. Alan Finkel, believes that the vast majority of our future energy requirements will be met by clean electricity. Not just for lighting, computing and air conditioning, but for transport, building heating, and industry, too.

It is important to understand the options we have (or will have) to meet these challenges of transforming rapidly to clean energy in order to draw down our greenhouse gas emissions. This is especially so in an essential industry like agriculture where, in NSW for example, diesel makes up an average of 80% of the energy used in agricultural production. Also, with our national fuel supply being heavily reliant on imports, fuel security is an ongoing issue unless change occurs.

Recordings of each of the presentations from the three forums can be found at NSW DPI website.

Renewing the regions; agriculture & the energy transition webinar

Hosted by the Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Farmers for Climate Action, ran this informative webinar on 9th December 2020 showcasing a great line-up of speakers, including:

• Oregon State University Associate Professor Chad Higgins on growing crops under solar panels
• Victorian farmer Paul Squires on growing potatoes under solar panels
• South Australian farmer James Stacey on cutting costs with solar irrigation
• Meredith Dairy environmental co-ordinator Dom Murphy on using bioenergy

More information about the webinar, the presenters and a link to the recording can be found on the Farmers for Climate Action website