Bioenergy and charcoal production: an alternative option for disposal of combustible municipal wastes

This project explored the possibility of using a CSIRO process to convert green waste (70,000 T/yr) to bioenergy. Tests conducted using CSIRO fluidised bed technique show that these wastes can be successfully converted to charcoal, and that this charcoal is very suitable for use as cooking fuels. The charcoal recovery rates achieved are also acceptable for commercial production and use as biochars to boost crop production (Chan et al., 2007; Cheng et al., 2008) or to sequester carbon in the soil (Sohi et al., 2009). There is also a potential to supply steam/heat to a major abattoir. The most attractive market for steam/heat is more likely to be to supply steam to Stanwell Power Station for green energy generation. The study also undertook preliminary engineering design and costing.

Keywords: green waste, charcoal, fluidised bed, green energy, heavy metals, methane, biochar, bioenergy, briquette, steam, heat, pesticides, organochemicals, heavy metals, carbon sequestration, combustible municipal wastes, municipal solid waste, solid waste management