Report on use of farm-grown wood as energy source

5/5/93

Wood grown on farms had the potential to supply more than half the Esperance region's electricity demands, Environment Minister Kevin Minson said today.

He said this was one of the findings of a report commissioned by the Department of Conservation and Land Management.

The report, by consultant Brian Ray, tested the feasibility of farm-grown wood as a competitive source of energy.

"If the report's main recommendations are implemented, a wood-fuelled generator will be built to complement existing generators driven by diesel and wind," Mr Minson said.

"This scheme has the potential to bring many benefits to the region.

"It would be environmentally friendly and could stabilise the cost of producing electricity - diesel prices have varied by as much as 50 per cent on world markets in the past.

"Plantation-grown wood is a renewable resource and its use as a fuel would significantly reduce our use of non-renewable and expensive diesel fuels.

"Eucalypts used in modern generators also produce far less pollutants than fossil fuels.

"One of the biggest advantages would be the land care benefits achieved by hardwood plantations on farms.

"Carefully planned timber belts can prevent erosion and salinity problems and the shelter provided for stock and crops has been proved to increase their productivity."

Mr Minson said initial trials had also shown that the Esperance region had the potential to produce hardwoods, such as Tasmanian blue gums in short rotations,

He said the report found a wood-fuelled generator had the capacity to meet 55 per cent of the region's electricity demand and would require 2,563 hectares of plantations to provide fuel.

Such a unit could give the region extra flexibility in meeting its variable power demands as well as provide new employment opportunities.

Media contact: Diana Callander 222 9595