Well placed for energy farming

Press, 12 April 1979, Page 12

Well placed for energy farming

New Zealand was further advanced in its knowledge of the technology of converting indigenous material into liquid fuels — energy farming — than most other countries of the world, except Brazil, the Minister of Energy, Mr W. F. Birch, said in Ashburton last .week. Mr Birch said that. New Zealand had developed continuous fermenting processes, had significant distilling experience and had scientists and technolgoists capable of advising on other processes that were available, or that might become available, to yield liquid fuels from indigenous materials. New Zealand had a large land resource, not all of it devoted intensively to primary production. “We have all the essential ingredients — the resource, the expertise and the farmers to pro-

cluce this new industry,” said the Minister. “There is an element of risk, but my judgement is that we should make an immediate start in a small way to firm up the processes and techniques.” Mr Birch said that there were no technical problems that could not be solved in introducing up to 20 per cent of ethanol — a possible product of energy farming — into existing fuel for motor vehicles. Some minor technical changes to vehicles would be required but these were only lhe replacement of some parts of the fuel systems of some cars. While at present day values ethanol fuel extenders would cost about 50 per cent more than petrol. Mr Birch said that their economics could only improve with the increasing cost of oil. A visit to Brazil last year by New Zealand representatives had confirmed that strenuous efforts had been made to achieve a high degree of self sufficiency in alcohol fuels. Brazilian farmers using cane sugar had oriented their farming to a new product and a new industry. The Brazil model might be well worth emulating using a crop which was more suitable to New Zealand conditions. With this in mind, Mr Birch said he had agreed to make a brief visit to Brazil while returning from the international i energy conference in Canada next month. Brazil had a target of achieving a 20 per cent 1 ethanol blend with petrol ; for use over the whole l country by 1980. Six hundred cars in Sao Paulo were now using a 96 per cent ethanol fuel with engines appropriately modified, and it was expected that this number would increase by next i year to 2000 cars, which I were mostly Government | vehicles.