Transition to a biofuel economy in Australia

Citation

Land & Water Australia. 2009. Transition to a biofuel economy in Australia. [Online] (Updated July 3rd, 2009)
Available at: http://lwa.gov.au/node/2933 [Accessed Wednesday 29th of February 2012 08:22:41 PM ].

The analytical modelling approach of the project uses a ‘base case’ scenario to concurrently resolve looming policy dilemmas of transport fuel security, greenhouse emissions, landscape degradation, trade balances and regional renewal. The study found that it is feasible to underpin a substantial proportion of Australia’s transport fuel cycle with a wood feedstock planted on 25 to 50 million hectares of Australia’s ‘tamed’ lands. It also tested several different pathways and technologies towards a renewable electricity system and found that many were feasible, even if costly by today’s standards.

While complementing many national policy issues under scrutiny, the study highlights a number of important strategic issues and possible solutions to them; issues and solutions that may require more elaboration in national decision-making forums.

Project Objectives

To develop the OzEcco energy flows model to acommodate the current and future technological and policy options that may lead to the carbohydrate economy.
To replicate in the model the forage, waste and wood flows that practically might be sourced from key farming areas of Australia.
To design and test numerically five nationally-scaled scenarios that affect the transition to a biomass-based carbohydrate economy.