Energy conversion technologies
The six main technologies for converting wood waste to energy are:
Direct combustion of wood waste to generate electricity;
Co-firing or co-generation – a combination of wood waste and coal in coal fired power stations (see below);
Pyrolysis – the heating of wood waste in the absence of oxygen to produce varying quantities of oil, gas and charcoal;
Gasification – heating wood with a small amount of oxygen that turns a high proportion of the wood into a gas;
Pelletisation / briquetting – compressed fine wood particles that can be used in co-fired stations or home heating;
Chemical-biological production of liquid fuels – such as ethanol and bio-diesel or bio-oil.
Direct combustion and co-firing of wood waste are proven and commercially viable options for generating renewable energy. The other potential uses of wood waste have a higher degree of risk, either as new technologies because they have not yet been shown to be effective on a commercial scale.
New technologies are opening up the prospect of using wood waste for efficient, small-scale electricity production.
For more information, refer to the following Information Sheets and Reports
Information Sheets:
9: Cost considerations in using wood waste to produce renewable energy
10: What technologies can be used to produce renewable energy from wood waste?
Reports:
Report 1 - Global and Australian initiatives and impediments
to the production of renewable energy from wood in Australia
Report 4 - Converting wood waste into renewable energy
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