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Delta Electricity is reducing greenhouse emissions at its coal fired generators by up to 20,000 tonnes each year by co-firing quantities of renewable biomass fuels with coal.
Currently, the biomass fuel includes saw mill residue, a by-product of sustainable plantation operations.
The environmental benefits of co-firing wood waste include the prevention of the material breaking down to produce methane, another greenhouse gas. It provides a market for low value wood waste and the cash flow to recycling businesses encourages the sorting and recovering of wood and timber waste for reuse.
In March 2010, Delta also began a trial to plant and harvest mallee eucalypts to use as renewable bio-mass fuel at Wallerawang power station. 200,000 mallee trees are being planted on 20 farms in the Forbes region. This trial gives an opportunity to assess growth rates and other outcomes from growing mallee as a biomass crop.
By replacing up to 20% of coal with biomass at all of its power stations, Delta's greenhouse gas emissions could be further reduced.
For more information about Delta Electricity and biomass click here.
Fact Sheet 1 Baseload electricity from renewable biomass
Fact Sheet 2 Delta Electricity committed to biomass
Fact Sheet 3 Viable biomass fuel sources in NSW
Fact Sheet 4 Steps in large scale biomass production
Mallee Planting Trial media release.
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