Solid biomass fuel

Solid biomass fuels are produced from organic materials, such as residues from agriculture, forestry and waste, and converted into renewable energy. There are also existing or planned waste to energy facilities, which use feedstocks such as other green waste or municipal solid waste. Solid biomass fuels include electricity co-generation, pellets, briquettes and biochar.

In Queensland, co-generation is largely through sugar mills using bagasse. Co-generation mainly provides reduced energy costs for individual businesses, although some facilities are at sufficient scale to export to the electricity grid, or support a precinct with behind-the-meter electricity. Co-generation of electricity from bagasse currently provides about 1.6% of the total electricity generated in Queensland.

There are some existing solid biomass fuel producers in Queensland. Currently, pellets and briquettes are generally exported. When used directly as an energy source they are a replacement for coal, such as in power stations, and can also be used in commercial furnaces and boilers and domestic wood heaters to generate heat.

Biochar is traditionally used as a soil enhancer by the agricultural sector but can also be used as a replacement for charcoal. The process of making biochar can release gaseous by-products that can be converted into liquid biofuels.