Biomass fuels win support

Press, 12 April 1979, Page 21

Biomass fuels win support

PA Wellington Federated Farmers wants the Government to set up a commercial pilot plant to farm liquid fuel before New Zealand runs into another fuel crisis. The Federation has reacted enthusiastically to comments by the Minister of Energy (Mr Birch) that a start should be made to improve the processes and techniques of producing liquid fuels from agriculture. The Federation’s spokesman, Mr Rene Boinot, said he believed a small-scale biomass plant could be started this year. It would allow time for experts to study techniques and modifications that might be necessary. Mr Boinot, the federation’s technical adviser, said that learning the technology for biomass was an important factor and farmers would need

time to phase into the system. At the moment Maui natural gas, with a Government investment of SIOOM, seemed the most immediately feasible source for transport liquid fuels, he said. The Government is almost certainly expected to opt for the use of Maui gas in transport. But, Mr Boinot predicted. it might not be “too long” before the economics of farming crops of trees for met hand or ethanol become increasingly attractive. There was little in choosing between mathanol or ethanol, which produced a slightly higher energy output. It would be common sense to have biomass production plants near consumption points to cut expensive freight costs, Mr Boinot said.