Expertise

Bioenergy projects typically involve the commitment of millions of dollars. They require definition, costing and optimisation across the supply chain, from biomass inputs to energy outputs.

Every project requires careful planning and development to ensure that final decisions and expenditure are made on the basis of detailed understanding of the project, its opportunities and its risks. Enecon can assist with these activities, looking at options and innovations at each stage of the chain from biomass to heat, electricity, liquid fuels or other products. We can scope and manage studies leading to cost estimates and financial analysis. We can then assist with project implementation, working alongside clients or other consultants to achieve the best project outcomes.

Feeds
Our assignments have covered work with a wide variety of biomass feeds, including:

• Residues from plantation forestry and wood processing
• Residues from agricultural and horticultural industries
• Post-consumer biomass, particularly construction and demolition wood wastes
• New tree crops
• Woody weeds

We often collaborate with forestry experts for harvesting and transport matters. We can design and cost feed receival, pre-treatment, sizing, drying and storage facilities as required. Importantly, we can integrate feed characteristics with decisions for processing technology.

Technologies
We have worked with a wide range of technologies for energy and biomass co-products. These include:

• Combustion
• Gasification
• Pyrolysis (fast and slow)
• Cogeneration and trigeneration
• Carbonisation (for charcoal)
• Activated carbon
• Pellets and briquettes
• Biofuels

Our experience ranges from laboratory work and technology scale-up, through evaluation of equipment and systems, to commissioning and optimisation of commercial plants. We combine practical engineering and business skills with a strong environmental commitment, encompassing:

• Safety and operability
• Environmental and social benefits
• Standards, permits and approvals
• Robust technical and commercial solutions

Markets

Markets are often the least understood aspect of bioenergy and bioproducts, but they are fundamental to the success of every project.

For bioenergy:

• Industrial and commercial energy users often have variable needs – daily, weekly, seasonally.
• Supply of some or all of a bioenergy plant’s electrical output to the network comes with its own benefits and complexities.
• Enecon can optimise the scale of a bioenergy plant and its focus on heat, power or cogeneration to suit the needs for energy on-site and off-site.

For bioproducts:

• Pellets, charcoals and activated carbons will have wide variation in composition according to feedstock and production process. This in turn affects their yields, markets and ultimate value.
• Production scale also has a significant effect on final product cost and thus on markets.
• Enecon can link markets to feedstocks and processes, to ensure that project is professionally and thoroughly assessed for its commercial potential.